Ireland U19s hold Italy to draw

Italy U19s 0 Rep Ireland U19s 0

Ireland earned a spirited scoreless draw with a star-studded Italy in Corato in the first of their two friendlies in southern Italy.

Keeper Darren Randolph was the Irish hero with two brilliant stops. First he denied Alessio Cerci with his feet on 34 minutes.

Roma-based Cerci struck again early in the second half, but Randolph was again equal to the challenge to turn the striker’s shot round a post.

Ireland might have snatched victory late on, but Andy Keogh lobbed over the bar.

The sides meet again in Bisceglie on Thursday afternoon.