The Republic of Ireland Under-21s suffered their first defeat in the 2013 UEFA European Championships qualifying group when they lost to Turkey in Manisa.
A goal by Turkey’s lone striker Sahin Aygünes on ten minutes proved to be the difference between the nations in an evenly matched contest.
James McCarthy’s promotion to the senior squad as well as the withdrawal through injury of striker Rhys Murphy meant manager Noel King was forced into making two changes from the starting team that defeated Hungary 2-1 on Thursday.
An added blow came an hour before kick-off with the loss of another impressive performer from last week, Adam Barton, due to a virus.
Hull City’s loanee from Manchester United Brady was used as a striker after starring on the wing in the 2-1 win over Hungary in Sligo last Thursday.
There wasn’t much in the contest until the home side forged ahead in the tenth minute. A lofted ball from Turkey full-back Kamil Çörekçi into the inside-right channel left the Irish defence scrambling and Sahin Aygünes made full use of the space by rounding Ireland goalkeeper Ian McLoughlin and tucking home from an acute angle.
Despite much good play from King’s youngsters, there was little threat on either goal in the remainder of the opening half.
Mark Connolly blazed over from a good opening shortly after the restart when Brady made the opening and the creator pelted a shot at Turkish goalkeeper Özkan Karabulut midway through the half which was batted away.
King introduced substitute James Collins into attack on 66 minutes and, not long after him, Shane Duffy. Normally a centre-back, Duffy’s aerial power gained Ireland an extra edge heading into the final ten minutes.
Duffy connected with a Brady delivery ten minutes to see his goal-bound header cleared off the line by Turkish skipper Serdar Aziz.
At the other end, Turkey would have finished the contest with a second goal had McLoughlin’s not intervened twice. He bloked Uludag’s shot with his legs a minute from time before pushed an Aygünes curling free around the post.
Italy opened their account in the campaign tonight by defeating Hungary 3-0.
Turkey: Karabulut; Çörekçi, Aziz, Basdas, Nizam; Kaplan, Gülle, Demir, Uysal, Çolak; Aygünes.
Subs: Yilmaz for Kaplan (70 mins), Uludag for Çolak (85 mins), Ozmen for Basdas (90+2)
Republic of Ireland: McLoughlin, Oyebanjo, Canavan , Kiernan, Gunning; Towell, Connolly, Clifford, White; Hendrick; Brady.
Subs: Collins for Hendrick (66 mins), Duffy for Oyebanjo, Hourihane for Towell (80 mins)
Referee: P Massoleni (Italy)
