Don Givens' side claimed a battling 2-2 draw on Monday

Rep of Ireland 2-2 Germany

Republic Under-21 captain Liam Miller was the local hero with his late goal earning the Irish a deserved friendly draw against their German counterparts in Cork.

The Irish had been trailing since the 33rd minute when Aston Villa's Thomas Hitzlsperger had given the visitors the lead with Germany's second goal in three minutes.

That had wiped out the 20th-minute Irish opener from another hometown boy, John O'Flynn.

And it was O'Flynn who was the provider five minutes from time, teeing up Celtic midfielder Miller to slot home from close range.

Both sides were using the game as preparation for UEFA Championship qualifiers later this week.

The Irish will be at home to Albania in Longford on Friday while the Germans go to Kilmarnock to meet Scotland on the same night.

Don Givens' boys in green started the brighter with Nottingham Forest midfielder Andy Reid having the ball in the net in the sixth minute only for the effort to be ruled offside.

Sunderland's Sean Thornton played for the Irish

The Irish compensated 14 minutes later when O'Flynn took his chance, running onto a Sean Thornton's through-ball and rounding goalkeeper Tom Franke to slot home.

Germany did not take long to get back into the game.

The leveller came from prolific Mainz striker Benjamin Auer, who scored his 10th goal in 13 starts for Uli Stielike's side by firing home on the half hour.

Then Hitzlsperger sent his country into the lead three minutes later with a stinging shot from inside the area.

The Germans played out the rest of the half and 25 minutes of the second period without being put under undue pressure.

They very nearly grabbed a conclusive third goal with 20 minutes to go when substitute Thorsten Burkhardt forced a save from Stack and Stephen Capper was forced to clear Christian Tiffert's follow-up off the line.