Ireland finish with draw against Germany in Toulon

The Republic of Ireland denied Germany a place in the third-place play-off at the Toulon Festival as their own miserable campaign…

The Republic of Ireland denied Germany a place in the third-place play-off at the Toulon Festival as their own miserable campaign ended with a first point.

The sense that Ireland have performed well beneath themselves here persists, and a draw was a disappointment for Don Givens' team who had led twice but disintegrated after Jim Goodwin's 67th-minute dismissal.

Germany had to win the match to take second place in Group B, and now Japan will progress to play England in Friday's play-off for third place.

Ireland went ahead in the 39th minute when Manchester United centre-back John O'Shea headed in a Thomas Butler corner.

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The pair had only arrived in France on Sunday, at the end of the Premiership season, but were influential for the first half.

Ireland recovered from a Christian Tiffert leveller to regain their advantage through Andy Reid, only to be pegged back again by a Benjamin Auer penalty.

PA