Magic and lethal finishing from Andrew Moran and Bosun Lawal saw Ireland U21s come from behind twice in Austria, to earn a merited 2-2 draw with Ukraine in this, competitive, friendly.

Ireland’s last outing came in March, a come-from-behind 2-1 win at Turner’s Cross against Iceland where Tom Cannon and Troy Parrott strikes boosted morale severely. 

Jim Crawford was brave with his starting eleven selection, dishing out three debuts.  Those went to St Pats’ Conor Carty, who’s been in fine form, defender James Abankwah and West Ham’s promising forward, Armstrong Oko-Flex partnering Carty in a front two.

As they acclimatised to the Blad Blaumau setting, both sides started cautiously, feeling each other out as despite Ukraine’s presence at the upcoming European Championships, they, like Ireland, were in the playoff positions to get there.

They played with freedom and as the boys in green found their feet, calamity struck with the concession of a penalty.

Ukrainian midfielder, Artem Bondareko, smashed the ball into the net beyond Tiernan Brooks to open the scoring. 

But Ireland are nothing if resilient under Crawford and led by captain Joe Hodge, in the centre of the park, they marched right back into matters. 

Brighton’s Andrew Moran, mirroring his club teammate Evan Ferguson, was influential and almost equalised in the fortieth minute but Ruslan Nescheret spread himself big and saved well.

Not to be denied though, deep into first half stoppage time, Moran made himself further known, stooping to score Ireland’s, just, leveller, teeing up a well-set second half.

The second half started, reminiscent of the cagey opening quarter of an hour, but the youngsters in green settled quicker and Carty curled a shot in that Nescheret repelled, close from the debutant!

Entering the last twenty-five minutes, Crawford dished out a further three debuts, switching up his attacking options as Dara Costelloe, Darragh Burns and Ed McJannet all entered the fray.

From there, more drama ensued as Ukraine won themselves a second penalty in the seventy-third minute, forward Danylo Saniko calmly converting to restore their lead.

Ireland again though were not to be beaten.

Evoking memories of Nathan Collins’ surging, gliding out from defence goal, funnily enough against Ukraine, in a Nations League tie, central defender Bosun Lawal strode out, up field and surged all the way into the box where he finished like an established striker, lashing across into Neshcheret’s corner. 

With additional time to be played out, Ireland showed spirit and steely resolve to see out the draw, they will be extremely heartened by twice recovering from falling behind, the second especially a sucker-punch given its timing, plenty of positives for Crawford to take.

Heading into Monday’s friendly tie with Kuwait, optimism will be sky high and rightly so following this comeback draw.