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''We can't be overly disappointed'' - Irish squad intent on staying positive ahead of second leg

Ireland will head into the second leg of their Euro 2016 play-off with an away goal under their b...



''We can't be over...
Soccer

''We can't be overly disappointed'' - Irish squad intent on staying positive ahead of second leg

Ireland will head into the second leg of their Euro 2016 play-off with an away goal under their belt, but with Bosnia countering just before the end of the tie, the job is far from complete.

The quality of vision on the pitch rapidly depleted in the second half with the intrusion of some particularly dense fog. Many speculated that the game would be abandoned and reconvened to a later date where the remaining minutes would be played out. Ironically, however, it was in this period that both sides found the net.

Ireland struck first when Robbie Brady made full use of the fog to launch a deceptive low gravity shot that managed to slip under the glove of Asmir Begovic and bank that precious away goal.

Describing the move that led to the goal, Brady told Newstalk's Nathan Murphy that he spotted an opportunity to take a shot.

"The ball got kicked up from Randolph and it just skipped through the centre-back and I thought I had a chance of getting on the end of it so I caught up with it and came inside to put it back across the near side of the goalie. We'll take that into Monday," the swinger said post-match.

But the away goal celebrations were short-lived as Eden Dzeko emerged to level proceedings just three minutes later.

Speaking after the game, Ireland boss Martin O'Neill elected to focus on the positives while also remaining cautious of the threat that Bosnia carry going into the second leg in the Aviva this coming Monday night.

"We have the away goal which help but that can wiped out at any minute, I thought it was a tough game for us but we fought very strongly and we're still in the tie.

"The onus is on us now because Bosnia are capable of scoring a goal. Our mindset should be to try and win the game," O'Neill added.

Defender Seamus Coleman echoed O'Neill's sentiments and reiterated the importance of the away goal but couldn't help remarking on the disappointment of Dzeko's equaliser.

"Look, we're not overly disappointed and we have to be positive going into Monday, but we're slightly disappointed to concede so soon after scoring but we would have taken that away goal if you gave it to us before the game," he said.

Maintaining Ireland's positive outlook, Brady added that the prospect of playing in the European championships would be a dream opportunity for him and the rest of the players.

"These games are the best games I've ever experienced and to qualify would be a dream of ours and an opportunity that we can't let slide."

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