Second half strikes from Tyreik Wright and Conor Coventry sealed an important three points for Jim Crawford’s U21 side in European action in Bosnia this evening.

Republic of Ireland beat Bosnia & Herzegovina 2-0 away from home to give them the perfect start to their European Championship Qualifying Campaign.

It was a slow start to the first period with neither side able to break the opposition defence down. Bosnia had the games first real opportunity courtesy of Milan Savic. Dedic’s dangerous corner kick was met by Savic at the front post but his glancing header went just wide of Brian Maher’s net.

Gavin Kilkenny was vital to Jim Crawford’s charges, with the Bournemouth midfielder looking dangerous every time he got on the ball. Ireland’s best chance of the first half came through Jake O’Brien. Coventry’s free kick was met at the back post by the head of O’Brien but the centre back couldn’t direct his effort on target. Neither side were able to make the breakthrough during the first period and the game was scoreless at the interval.

Ireland started the second period at a much higher pace than they did in the first. With just over five minutes played in the second half, Kilkenny’s free kick from just outside the area was saved by Dizdarevic before Joshua Kayode was fouled by Malic inside the box. The referee pointed straight to the spot and awarded the visitors a penalty. Wright stood up and calmly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to give Ireland the lead.

Bosnia pushed for an equaliser after conceding and almost got that just ten minutes after Wright’s spotkick. Dedic’s free kick from 30 yards looked destined for the back of the net but Bray Wanderers’ Brian Maher saved superbly to keep his clean sheet intact.

The Irish almost doubled their lead just moments after when Louie Watson drove through the heart of the Bosnian midfield before making a defence splitting pass into the path of Wright. The on loan Salford City man tried to dink the ball over Dizdarevic but the Bosnian goalkeeper saved well to keep the score at one nil.

Ireland did double their lead with just over a quarter of an hour left to play. Kilkenny’s corner was met by Wright who cut the ball back into the path of Ireland skipper Coventry who slotted the ball into the bottom corner to double the advantage. This well worked training ground routine will definitely please the Irish coaches and fans as the Republic of Ireland gained a valuable three points on the road.