Defeat For Fairclough's England C In Ireland

This international friendly saw Paul Fairclough giving a number of their chance in this game, writes Tom Feaheny.

A number of the squad were being given their first cap with only Dagenham & Redbridge pair Fejiri Okenabirhie and Charlee Adams, Kidderminster Harriers defender Fraser Horsfall, Leyton Orient’s Sam Ling and Woking centre-back Josh Staunton having been capped before.

It was Staunton who was selected as the captain for this match.

Ireland were the ones celebrating as they took the lead when the impressive Shane Stritch saw his effort from distance beat Truro City keeper Tom McHale.

Despite being a goal down, there were chances being created and just before half-time Dagenham & Redbridge's Luke Pennell was on hand to head in the equaliser, when a free-kick wasn't cleared he was at the near post to score from a cross.

It was a far from ideal start for the visitors in the second-half as Paul Murphy scored with just a minute gone.

Two substitutes had been made during half-time and one of them in Salford City's Tom Walker scored the goal of the game with a fine effort from 25 yards out, that levelled the scores at 2-2.

With just over ten minutes to go substitute Eoin Hayes put Ireland Amateurs back in front and he grabbed his second just before full-time.