Brilliant Brady’s brace fires Ireland to victory

ROBERT BRADY enjoyed a dream return to international duty as his stoppage-time goal from the penalty spot earned the Republic of Ireland a deserved victory over Austria in a gripping U21 International friendly at the Sligo Showgrounds yesterday.

The former St Kevin’s Boys schoolboys star — called into the U21 squad despite a no-show for Ireland’s UEFA U19 campaign — headed home Aidan White’s teasing cross past Heinz Lindner in the Austrian goal on 71 minutes as the Republic threw everything at their opponents to level matters.

And, when Brady was taken down a minute into stoppage time, the Manchester United player now on loan at Hull coolly slotted the ball to the net to delight the 1,800 spectators.

Ireland had started the game well and Austrian keeper Lindner brought off a stunning save to deny Brady after two minutes. The Dubliner was again in the thick of the action again after nine minutes, sending his close-range angled shot across the face of the goal.

Christopher Drazan, Raphael Holzhauser and Stefan Hierlandor had looked dangerous on the break for Austria. The Irish goal had a let-off in the 27th minute when Martin Hinteregger’s clever ball was headed inches wide of goal by Stefan Schwab with keeper Ian McLoughlin off his line.

A blasting shot by Schwab was cleared by the Irish defence after 35 minutes as the Austrians came more into the game, and there were more anxious moments for Noel King’s side when Drazan and Dieter Elsneg tested the Irish defence.

Another super save by the Austrian keeper kept an Aaron Doran blockbuster out after 42 minutes as the Republic launched a blistering attack but neither side managed to break the deadlock before half time.

Austria went ahead in the 68th minute when Raphael Holzhauser’s well struck free from 35 yards flew past sub keeper Aaron McCarey.

Ireland hit back and Brady went close for the Boys in Green and it took excellent defending by the Austrians to deny substitute Shane Duffy from Brady’s free kick after Mark Connolly was taken down 30 yards from goal.

A clever flick on by Robert Brady was picked up by the in-rushing Connolly direct from the kick-off but the move eventually petered out before Brady’s late heroics turned the game.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: McLoughlin, Connolly, Gunning, Tiernan, Canavan, Towell, Clifford, Hendrick, White, Doran, Brady.

Subs: McCarey for McLoughlin (ht), Stevens for Gunning (ht), Duffy for Canavan (ht), Mason for Clifford (ht), Oyedango for Hendrick (ht), Greene for White (74 min), Kearns for Doran (85 min).

AUSTRIA: Lindner, Holzhauser, Hart, Hinteregger, Karner, Elsneg, Schwab, Zwierschitz, Hopfer, Drazan, Hierlander.

Subs: Schopf for Hopfer (ht), Tadic for Schwab (ht), Kropfi for Elsneg (63 min), Gregoritsch for Drazan (63 min), Holzmawn for Zwierschitz (75 min), Sollbauer for Karner (75 min).

Referee: A Hunter (Northern Ireland).