UNDER-21 INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY:ROBERT BRADY marked his international return last night by scoring a brace as the Republic of Ireland came from behind to defeat Austria in front of almost 2,000 at the Showgrounds in Sligo.
The Irish fell behind to Raphael Holzhauser’s free-kick on 68 minutes but the Manchester United winger headed the equaliser four minutes later before adding a stoppage-time penalty.
Yesterday saw the promotion of Brady’s under-21 colleague Conor Clifford to the senior squad for this evening’s friendly against Croatia but Giovanni Trapattoni will also be keeping tabs on Ireland’s match-winner.
Brady’s next official international assignment is the Under-21 Uefa Championship qualification opener against Hungary on September 1st, also in Sligo, though a continued upsurge in the type of form shown on Friday in his debut for on-loan Hull City as well as last night will determine which of the squads he’ll link up with.
There was much anticipation in Sligo about Brady’s comeback to the international fray, having been dropped by Paul Doolin for the Under-19 European Championships, and the Manchester United ace was Ireland’s livewire throughout.
“I think I showed out there tonight how much I enjoy playing for Ireland,” he said afterwards.
Just three minutes had elapsed when Brady skipped inside his full-back and thundered a left-foot shot which Austria goalkeeper Heinz Lindner turned around the post for a corner.
The Irish defence were rarely threatened in the first half though a defensive mix-up was seized upon by Stefan Hierlander who failed to finish from 18 yards.
King shuffled his pack at the break by introducing five substitutes but Brady remained the most dangerous of Ireland’s outlets.
After 50 minutes the Dubliner surged from his own penalty area and was only thwarted by a last-ditch block eight yards out.
But Ireland were rocked by an Austrian opener following the award of a dubious free-kick on 68 minutes. VfB Stuttgart’s Holzhauser curled his effort around the defensive wall and past goalkeeper Aaron McCarey.
It needed a spark to reignite Ireland’s charge and they got it four minutes later when Brady fed Aidan White on the left and sprinted into the box to head the Leeds United winger’s cross into the top corner.
Austria substitute Dario Tadic missed a sitter with two minutes left and the visitors were made to pay when defender Michael Holzmann bundled Brady over inside the area. Up stepped the man-of-the-match to beat Lindler from the spot to crown an impressive evening’s work.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND:McLoughlin (MK Dons); Connolly (Bolton), Kiernan (Wigan Ath), Canavan (Scunthorpe Utd), Gunning (Blackburn Rovers); Clifford (Chelsea), Towell (Celtic), Hendrick (Derby County); Brady (Hull City), Doran (Inverness CT), White (Leeds Utd). Subs: McCarey (Wolves) for McLoughlin, Oyebanjo (York City) for Canavan, Mason (Cardiff City) for Clifford, Stevens (Shamrock Rovers) for Gunning, Duffy (Everton) for Hendrick (all half-time), Greene (Sligo Rovers) for White (73 mins), Kearns (Dundalk) for Doran (80 mins).
Brady 72, 90 (pen)
