A last gasp goal from Jonathan Daly handed the Republic of Ireland under-21's victory over Finland in Helsinki. Don Givens' side played out a tame first half against the hosts as the sweltering temperatures affected the pace of the game and with few goal-scoring opportunities the first half ended scoreless.
The home team started brightly, with Hannu Haarala nodding wide from Antti Okkonen's cross but Ireland's defence remained largely in control. Captain Jim Goodwin was particularly impressive, leading by example with a couple of well-timed challenges, while offering vocal support to his team-mates while Huddersfield midfielder Dwayne Matthis also turned in a wholehearted display, content to break down Finnish attacks and quickly move the ball onto colleagues with greater flair.
Givens made a couple of changes at the break, Goodwin one of those withdrawn in favour of Jason McGuinness and UCD's Robert Doyle also came on. But it was Daly who got the breakthrough in the 90th minute when he latched on to a Wes Houlihan long-ball to rocket a shot into the roof of the Finnish net and secure a last-gasp victory.
Filed by Johnny Proby
