|
The defender popped up to plant the ball past Hungary ‘keeper Norbert Bakonyi from the just inside of penalty area eight minutes before half-time after the visitors failed to clear a corner.
The goal came from Ireland's third corner in quick succession and it was well deserved considering they had most of the possession and chances before the break.
Everton central-defender Darren Dennehy nearly found the net from the previous corner-kick but his header was tipped past the post by Bakonyi.
Simon Madden was particularly involved in the first-half for the Republic. The Leeds United right-back was given licence to help his attackers with overlapping runs and cropped up in threatening positions regularly during the opening 45 minutes.
Irish manager Sean McCaffrey experimented with his team selection and formation for the game and is expected to try out more options on Wednesday (April 5) when his squad meet Hungary again at the same venue (Kick-off 5pm).
Mark Salmon from Wolves looked lively in midfield, offering plenty of support for strikers Adam Rooney and Andrew Jackson.
Stoke first-team squad member Rooney had Ireland's best chance of extending their lead early in the second half when he directed his header towards goal but again, the ‘keeper was equal to the task and the ball was scrambled to safety.
Republic ‘keeper Jimmy McKeown, on his debut, had a quiet evening with Hungary only causing danger in injury time when Istvan Vituska slipped in at the back post to connect with a free-kick but his acrobatic effort went way off-target.
This pair of friendly games will act as preparation for next September's UEFA U19 first phase qualifying series, when Ireland travel to Macedonia to play against Holland, Belarus and the hosts. The top two nations from that group of four will advance to the Elite phase of the competition.
IRELAND: Jimmy McKeown (Walsall), Simon Madden (Leeds Utd), John Quigley (Stoke City) – captain, Alan Power (Notts Forest), Darren Dennehy (Everton), Stephen Gleeson (Wolves), Shane Treacy (Arsenal), Adam Rooney (Stoke City), Mark Salmon (Wolves), Andrew Jackson (St. Johnstone).
SUBS: Matthew Cassidy (Bolton Wanderers) and Emeka Onwubiko (St. Kevins Boys) for Treacy and Jackson (both Half-time). Stephen Maher (Unattached) for Salmon (65 mins).
HUNGARY: Bakonyi, Gyomber, Toth, Sipos, Sandor, Vituska, Bolcsfoldi, Kozmor, Kottan, Pinter, Farkas.