Bray Wanderers goalkeeper Brian Maher has urged the Republic of Ireland Under-21s to build on the momentum from their dramatic win over Australia as they prepare for a friendly showdown with Denmark.
Ireland will play the last of three matches during their summer training camp in Marbella against the Danes on Saturday having bounced back from a 2-0 defeat by Switzerland with a 2-1 victory over the Olympics-bound Australia Under-23s courtesy of substitute Ross Tierney's last-gasp strike.
Maher has seen the squad grow in character during the camp and knows they will need more of that when their European Championship qualifying campaign gets under way in September.
He said: "To win the way we did, with Ross scoring with his first touch, everyone was on such a massive high.
"If you look at that game, we controlled a lot of it, we had a setback but we responded well and those are the moments where you see our character growing - those are the things we're looking for.
"We're never going to give up on a game just because we conceded. We showed that against Wales and Australia and we also showed it against Switzerland. Even though we lost, we kept going because one thing I know from this group and the players I've played with for Ireland through the years, is that that we won't give up.
"Hopefully we take that into Denmark now. A win would give us more momentum and that will stand us in good stead for the qualifiers in September.
"Denmark are a tough opponent and not to be underestimated and we look forward to a good game."
