Hunt salvages a point for Irish U-21s

Georgia Under-21s 1 Republic of Ireland Under-21s 1

Georgia Under-21s 1 Republic of Ireland Under-21s 1

Don Givens's youngsters fought back to earn a draw despite being reduced to 10 men against Georgia this afternoon.

But the result is unlikely to be enough to revive their hopes of reaching next year's European Championship finals.

Ireland fell behind after 19 minutes when goalkeeper Graham Stack conceded a free-kick for handling outside his area and Lado Akhalaia headed home the set piece.

Nottingham Forest's Andrew Reid was sent off after 32 minutes when he took a free-kick before the referee had blown his whistle - having picked up his first booking a minute earlier for fighting.

But substitute Noel Hunt, of Dunfermline, salvaged some pride six minutes before the end when he headed home a cross from fellow substitute Kevin O'Connor.

Georgia U21: Malaknadze, Orbelabze, Tsimakuridze, Salukvadze, Kandeliki, Burnadze, Mantskava, Siradze, Akhalaia, Asatiani, Bobokhibze. Subs: Ivardava, Portseladze, Gogoberishvil, Dekanosidze, Samkharadze, Modebadze, Tchelidze. Rep of Ireland U21: Stack, Brennan, Goodwin, Thompson, Paisley, Tierney, Miller, Thornton, Daly, Reid, Hoolahan. Subs: Murphy, Byrne, Melligan, Hunt, Keane, O'Connor, Ward. Referee: Janos Megyebiro (Hungary)

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