Republic of Ireland 2-2 Slovakia
The Republic of Ireland finished off their UEFA U19 Championships Elite Phase with a 2-2 draw with Slovakia in Mannheim.
Paul Doolin's side came back from 2-0 down at the break to clinch a point thanks to second-half goals from a Ryan Manning penalty and Joel Coustrain.
Slovakia ended the game with three players dismissed, while the Irish also had Kevin Toner ordered off for two bookable offences.
Ireland’s opponents needed a win to secure their place in the finals in Greece this summer, while Ireland's chances of progressing ended in an unfortunate loss to Germany on Saturday.
Slovakia pushed the ball around to get early control and Irish keeper Harry Doherty was forced into an eighth-minute save to deny Juraj Chvátal before Denis Vavro opened the scoring four minutes later after finishing at the back post from a corner.
Doherty made another save to deny Andrej Kadlec in the 23rd minute and ten minutes later Ireland had their first effort on target when Cobh Ramblers winger Ryan Goldsmith drew a save from keeper Marek Rodák.
Unfortunately for Ireland, they conceded a second goal on the stroke of half-time when Lukas Čmelík turned the ball home after a quick counter-attack.
After the break Ireland raised their tempo and after two minutes, Josh Cullen drew a save from Rodák.
Doherty was then tested by Robert Polievka in the 62nd minute, while Rodák was again stretched by Manning in the 73rd minute before making a double-save to deny Jack Hallahan a minute later.
Ireland kept up the pressure and Rodák denied Cullen again in the 75th minute before the Irish won a penalty two minutes later as Noe Baba was fouled in the penalty area by Polievka. Manning converted from the spot.
Doherty kept out an effort from Lukas Haraslín in the 82nd minute and less than a minute later, Slovakia were down to ten men after Laszlo Bénes picked up a second booking.
Vavro was denied by Doherty once more before Kadlec became the second man dismissed for two bookings. Then Jakub Hromada was also shown the red card to leave the Slovaks with just eight players.
Ireland pushed hard for the equaliser and Rodák kept out a Manning effort in the 89th minute before Toner was shown a second yellow card and was dismissed after a challenge on Haraslín.
It looked like Slovakia would hang on for the three points, however, Joel Coustrain popped up to turn the ball home from a Reece Grego-Cox cross in the first minute of injury-time to clinch a share of the spoils in a remarkable game.
"We were hoping to get something from it,” said Ireland manager Doolin. “We looked to finish off on a decent performance. They were a very good side and scored a couple of goals in first half but we deserved something from the game.
"We were outstanding in the second half. Our attacking after the break was excellent. Slovakia had a couple of chances too. It was probably just as well that it ended when it did as the discipline seemed to have gone from the game.
"Overall I felt we played really well and deserved something from it. It wasn't just character. It was great play. These players have been great over the season and improved a lot collectively and individually.”
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Doherty, Baba, Moseley, Kelleher, Toner, Dimaio (Charsley 58), Manning, McGrath, Cullen, Hallahan (Grego-Cox 76), Goldsmith (Coustrain 61).
SLOVAKIA: Rodák, Kadlec, Vavro, Kružliak (Berežný 30), Káčer, Bénes, Vestenický, Lesniak (Haraslín 69), Čmelík, Špalek (Polievka 55), Chvátal.
