Brave Ireland exit U21 European Championship qualifying race after draw with Italy

Italy U21 1-1 Republic of Ireland U21

The Republic of Ireland's wait to qualify for a European Under-21 Championships is set to continue despite a brave 1-1 draw against Italy in Trieste.

The Boys in Green went into the game knowing a win would have seen them top the group, but they might have still nicked a play-off place had Norway failed to beat Turkey at home.

That game was a foregone conclusion from an early stage, finishing 5-1 for the Norwegians, meaning only three points away to the group favourites would be enough for Jim Crawford's side. And, despite coming from behind at half-time, they couldn't find the winner at the Stadio Nereo Rocco.

The damage wasn't done tonight, but in conceding stoppage-time equalisers to both the Italians and the Norwegians in Cork earlier in the campaign, as well as a failure to beat Latvia last month at Tallaght Stadium.

Ireland came into the game against a side who were looking to finish off their group campaign with an unbeaten record, and they looked relatively happy to absorb early pressure from the visitors.

Crawford's side were working the channels, raining crosses down on the Italian box throughout the night. James Abankwah went close on the quarter-hour mark, but he just couldn't get enough on the ball to direct his header on goal.

Shortly afterwards, Shamrock Rovers forward Johnny Kenny had a massive chance to give his side the lead. His initial header was saved, but Italian keeper Sebastiano Desplanches spilled the ball.

Kenny adjusted to poke the ball towards goal, but Nicolo Bertola was in the right place at the right time to clear the ball off the line.

Baba Adeeko then smashed a shot towards goal from just inside the box, and it was Daniele Ghilardi who made the crucial