Republic suffer friendly defeat to Turkey

Republic of Ireland 1 Turkey 2

Jonathan Walters’ fifth international goal could not prevent the Republic of Ireland from slipping to a 2-1 friendly defeat by Turkey.

The Stoke frontman struck with 21 minutes remaining to give Ireland hope after the visitors had established a 2-0 lead at the Aviva Stadium, but Martin O’Neill’s men were unable to complete the comeback.

Ahmet Ilhan Ozek had headed the Turks in front with just 17 minutes gone and substitute Osman Tarik Camdal’s 75th-minute effort ultimately proved decisive.

O'Neill handed keeper Rob Elliot a senior international debut as Turkey arrived in Dublin.

The Newcastle stopper, who missed his own stag party trip to Las Vegas to join up, was included behind a back four of Seamus Coleman, John O’Shea, Damien Delaney and Stephen Ward, while Glenn Whelan, Marc Wilson, Aiden McGeady and James McClean got the nod in midfield as Wes Hoolahan was asked to provide the support to lone striker Shane Long.

Turkey manager Fatih Terim was without key midfielder Arda Turan, who was on Champions League final duty with Atletico Madrid in Lisbon on Saturday night, although not involved because of injury.

Elliot was called upon for the firs time with less than a minute gone when striker Mevlut Erdinc chanced his arm from distance, the keeper getting down well to save.

He might have been required once again seconds later but for a near-post block by full-back Stephen Ward with the visitors flying out of the blocks.

However, Ireland were convinced they should have been awarded a fifth-minute penalty after Aiden McGeady slid Long in beyond defender Omer Toprak, whose untidy challenge sent the frontman sprawling to the ground, although legally in the opinion of referee Ruddy Buquet.

After a sluggish start, O’Neill’s men started to exert pressure and Ward blasted a left-foot shot inches wide from Hoolahan’s lay-off two minutes later.

They would have been ahead with 15 minutes played had keeper Onur Recep Kivrak not pulled off a point-blank save from Long’s sot after his defenders had failed to deal with McGeady’s free-kick, and John O’Shea’s follow-up was hacked off the line.

But it was Turkey who took the lead when Ahmet Ilhan Ozek met Gokhan Gonul’s inviting 17th-minute cross with a bullet header which Elliot could not keep out a full stretch.

Ireland were enjoying plenty of possession with McGeady particularly influential, and it was he who opened up the Turks once again after 26 minutes.

The Everton man accepted Long’s pass and tricked his way past full-back Caner Erkin on the right before delivering a cross which fellow winger James McClean met with a powerful header, but one which flew wide of the target.

McGeady continued to look the man most likely to get the Republic back into the game as he gave Erkin a torrid time, although it was McClean whose cross Long back-heeled just off target 10 minutes before the break.

The Wigan midfielder might have levelled himself seconds later after connecting with McGeady’s left-wing cross, but Onur was in the right place at the right time once again.

Ireland dominated possession as the whistle approached, but were unable to find a final ball to trouble Turkey.

Terim, who had been forced to make a change with just 21 minutes gone when Selcuk Inan limped off injured, replaced Bilal Kisa with Ozan Tufan at the break.

McGeady found himself in unaccustomed territory after being played into trouble by Seamus Coleman on his own goal-line and Hakan Calhanoglu’s persistence forced him to concede a corner, although one which ultimately came to nothing.

Both sides were wasteful in possession as the second half unfolded in listless fashion with neither goalkeeper involved.

But it was Turkey was started to find a rhythm as the half progressed and Ward headed behind for a corner after Erkin had crossed from the left with 56 minutes gone.

However, Ireland hit back within three minutes when Hoolahan picked out McGeady with a raking pass from the left.

The former Celtic midfielder controlled expertly and avoided Hakan’s challenge, only for Erkin to block his shot at source.

Damien Delaney had to be equally alert seconds later to prevent Erdinc’s shot from troubling Elliot with the game starting to come to life once again.

The Crystal Palace defender threw himself into the path of Erdinc’s 63rd-minute piledriver with the game starting to open up, but he departed three minutes later along with McGeady and Long as David Meyler, Daryl Murphy and Jon Walters were introduced.

Bayer Leverkusen defender Toprak was perhaps fortunate to escape for a second time after appearing to tug Hoolahan back inside the box with 15 minutes remaining, and Ireland’s fortunes were to take a further turn for the worst as the visitors broke.

Oguzhan Ozyakup’s clever pass left fellow substitute Osman Tarik Camdal unmarked inside the box and he made no mistake as he thumped a left-foot drive high past Elliot.

But the hosts gave themselves a lifeline within two minutes when Walters cut inside Toprak and blasted a right-foot shot past Onur.

Murphy might have snatched a draw with four minutes remaining when he got his head to McClean’s cross, but Onur plucked the ball out of the air to preserve his side’s lead.