Hungary 2 Rep of Ireland 1:WHILE THE Republic of Ireland's senior team embark on a new qualification tilt today, the Under-21s' quest to reach next year's European Championships ended yesterday in Kecskemet.
Knowing only victories from their concluding games away to Hungary and Italy would clinch a play-off, defeat leaves Noel King’s side to face the group winners needing a draw to avoid finishing fourth.
Shorn of regular midfield anchor Richie Towell through suspension, Ireland were ruthlessly exposed on the break by the Magyars.
With the lively Istvan Kovacs of Hungary’s Europa League group stage qualifiers Videoton playing just off beanpole striker Marko Futacs, the Irish defence struggled.
Rhys Murphy, who scored the winner in the reverse fixture 12 months ago, should have had Ireland in front on 12 minutes after Aidan White found him in the six yard box with a cross but he headed over.
Three minutes later, the hosts surged ahead. Leicester City’s Futacs was left unmarked in a central position 25 yards out and unleashed a low drive which drifted inside the right post beyond a static Ian McLoughlin.
Just as they seemed to be regaining control, the Irish were undone by a sweeping 27th minute counterattack. Futacs nicked the ball past the outstretched leg of Rob Kiernan in the centre circle before bombing down the left. All it took from the striker was a low cutback across the six-yard box for Kovacs to arrive on cue and sidefoot home.
Back came the Boys in green with a flurry of attacks – White curling over before Murphy’s shot on the turn was saved by Peter Gulácsi’s legs.
Then, Cunningham earned them a spot-kick five minutes before the break when floored by Tamas Kadar, allowing Robbie Brady to convert by sending the goalkeeper the wrong way for his a record-breaking seventh goal at under-21 level.
Needing two goals in the second half, the expected Irish onslaught failed to materialise and they were limited to free-kicks by Brady and Henderson which each narrowly sailed off-target.
HUNGARY:Gulácsi; Svab, Kadar, Fodor, Szolnoki; Simon, Fiola; Bódi, Kovacs, Gosztonyi; Futács. Subs: Balázs for Gosztonyi (68 mins), Beliczky for Kovacs (87 mins) Varga for Bodi (90 mins).
REP OF IRELAND:McLoughlin (MK Dons); Egan (Sunderland), Kiernan (Wigan Ath), Duffy (Everton), Cunningham (Bristol City); Hendrick (Derby County), Henderson (Arsenal), O'Kane (Bournemouth); Brady (Manchester Utd), Murphy (SC Telstar), White (Leeds Utd). Subs: Barton (Coventry City) for O'Kane, Doran (Inverness) for Murphy (both 70 mins), Forde (Wolves) for White (88 mins).
Referee: Ivaylo Stoyanov (Bul)
