Under 19's: Italy 0-2 Rep. Of Ireland

The Ireland squad was without several key players who, through club commitments or injury, or being rested by manager Sean McCaffrey, opted to stay behind.

Captain Patrick Cregg and Arsenal colleague Stephen O’Donnell, as well as Joey O’Brien of Bolton Wanderers and Manchester United’s Paul McShane – who have earned Football League experience this season through loan spells at Sheffield Wednesday and Walsall – all remained in England.

In addition, number one striker Andrew Keogh returned to Bury – where he is on loan from Leeds United – after Tuesday’s first friendly against the Italians in Corato.

While all that puts this win in perspective, manager McCaffrey insisted after Tuesday’s scoreless opener that his side could easily have won the game had they received a rub of the green.

McCaffrey made four changes to his side: in addition to Keogh’s unavailability, Manchester United’s Darren Gibson was injured, while midfielders John Paul Kelly and Stephen Foley-Sheridan, two experienced players at this level, dropped out of the side.

The 3-4-3 formation allowed Reading’s Jonathan Hayes, who started Tuesday’s game, paired with Celtic’s Diarmuid O’Carroll and Billy Clarke of Ipswich Town.

And it was the latter duo who made the most of their international opportunity, O’Carroll opening the scoring in the 53rd minute before Cork kid Clarke(below) doubled the lead six minutes later, while sub Shane Long came within inches of extending the lead with a header onto the post late on.

With defenders such as Richard Keogh, Darren O’Dea and David Elebert in top form, and sub keeper Darren Quigley in commanding form, the Irish youngsters held on for a significant victory in their continuing preparations for May’s Uefa second-phase qualifiers against Serbia-Montenegro, Poland and Albania.

Republic of Ireland under-19 line-up (3-4-3): Darren Randolph (Charlton Athletic) – Richard Keogh (Stoke City), Darren O’Dea (Celtic), David Elebert (Preston North End) – Gary Dicker (UCD), James Hand (Huddersfield Town), Michael Collins (Huddersfield), Ian Morris (Leeds United) – Jonathan Hayes (Reading), Diarmuid O’Carroll (Celtic), Billy Clarke (Ipswich Town). Subs: Darren Quigley (UCD) for Randolph, Travis Binnion (Sheffield Utd) for Dicker, Stephen Foley-Sheridan (Aston Villa) for Collins, Darren Gibson (Manchester Utd) for Morris (all half-time); John Paul Kelly (unattached) for Hand (59 minutes); Shane Long (Cork City) for Hayes (72 minutes).