A late equaliser from West Ham United striker Lee Boylan rescued Ireland from a flight home this morning, and instead propels them into a third/fourth place play-off against Spain in the UEFA under-18 championships in Iceland on Thursday afternoon.

Up until then Brian Kerr's team appeared to be crashing out of the competition with an unexpected defeat to Israel at Kopavogar.

However, inspired by Damien Duff, Ireland drew on their reserves of resilience and superior skill to carve out the necessary result with a stunning, much deserved goal eight minutes from time which was enough to put them through.

France beat Switzerland 1-0 in the other group game and play Portugal in the final.

Ireland were drawing little solace from the fact that they were much the better side and well on top when Irsael broke away to take the lead in the 35th minute.

Yossi Benayoun dribbled past a couple of half-challenges before calmly shooting past Irish gaolkeeper, Paul Whelan.

It was a heavy blow for Ireland as they had dominated with Duff having a goal disallowed in the 22nd minute.

The all important Irish goal finally arrived on 82 minutes when leftback Paul Dillon pumped a ball into the Israeli box. Boylan chested it down with his back to goal before swivelling and finding the back of the net with a right foot shot that went in off the underside of the crossbar.

Ireland might then have got their deserved winner three minutes from time when Duff hit the foot of a post with a cracking 22 yard shot.

"We are in the medals again," said a delighted Irish team manger Brian Kerr. "We've got to be satisfied with that. We might not have done as well as we hoped when we arrived, but we are in the top four in Europe."