Ireland U21's miss out on Euro 25 and will look back on this ...

Italy 1 

Republic of Ireland 1

A 1-1 draw with Italy away at the Stadio Nereo Rocco wasn’t enough for the Republic of Ireland U21s to secure a play-off spot for the 2025 European Championship on Tuesday night.

Needing to beat the Italians, or at least match what ever result Norway got at home against Turkey, (Norway won 5-1), Ireland miss out and will look back on several late goals conceded over several games and one or two poor performances against sides they were expected to beat has ultimately cost them their place at the European Championship next year.

Andrew Moran set up a big finish in Trieste after Cesare Casadei scored for the home side, but that was it as Norway won their game against Turkey and went second in the group.

The result brings an end to a memorable campaign that saw the team make Cork their home, while local players Matt Healy and Mark O’Mahony stepped and impressed in the green jersey.

Despite this, the mood at full-time in Trieste was of pure disappointment as Ireland were the better team over the 90 minutes in Italy.

Republic of Ireland players after the UEFA European U21 Championship qualifier match between Italy and Republic of Ireland at Stadio Nereo Rocco in Trieste, Italy. Photo by Igor Kupljenik/Sportsfile

Their first chance came from a Sam Curtis cross that was knocked out for a corner which Johnny Kenny got a head to. 

The goalkeeper dropped the ball, leading to a rushed shot by the Shamrock Rovers striker that saw taken off the goal-line by Nicolò Bertola in the 16th minute.

Italy broke after Ireland’s next attempt was scrambled away, and this move ended with Wilfred Gnonto setting up Casadei for a stunning strike that sailed in with 23 minutes on the clock.

It got worse in the final minutes of the half as the referee ruled that Anselmo García MacNulty brought down Tommaso Baldanzi inside the area and a penalty was awarded to the hosts. 

Gnonto stepped up and the Leeds United forward blasted the ball over the bar with 38 minutes on the clock.

Jim Crawford and his management team reacted to this by bringing on Omotayo Adaramola and Connor O’Brien after the break.

Italy just sat back and soaked up the pressure while winning every physical duel and forcing Ireland into deep crosses into the box.

Sebastiano Desplanches caught the ball on every occasion, while Sinclair Armstrong was double marked every time he dropped back and tried to create something for Kenny to run on to.

Italy dictated everything, until Moran connected with a low cross from Aidomo Emakhu and fired in in the 66th minute.

The creator almost stole the headlines in added time but it wasn’t to be as the ball went out for a Healy corner that was easily dealt with by the home side.

Italy: Sebastiano Desplanches; Nicolò Savona, Daniele Ghilardi, Nicolò Bertola, Mattia Zanotti, Cesare Casadei, Matteo Prati, Cher Ndour, Tommaso Baldanzi, Wilfred Gnonto, Pio Esposito.

Subs: Giovanni Fabbian for Esposito (53); Luca Koleosho for Gnonto (76), Riccardo Turicchia for Zanotti (76), Giovanni Bonfanti for Baldanzi (89).

Republic of Ireland: Tiernan Brooks; Sam Curtis, James Abankwah, Emmanuel Adegboyega, Anselmo García MacNulty, Andrew Moran, Babajide Adeeko, Matt Healy, Sinclair Armstrong, Johnny Kenny.

Subs: Omotayo Adaramola for Roughan (HT); Connor O’Brien for Curtis (HT), Aidomo Emakhu for Kenny (59), Mark O’Mahony for Adeeko (81).

Referee: Adam Ladebäck (Sweden)