Torquay United midfielder Eunan O'Kane played for the full 90 minutes as the Republic of Ireland Under-21 side picked up a credible point against their Italian counterparts.
The Italians, coached by former Juventus defender Ciro Ferrera, came to the Showgrounds in Sligo with a 100% record in their 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Qualifying group seven campaign.
Ireland found themselves pegged back after three minutes through an own goal by Eunan's former Everton team-mate Shane Duffy before Pescara's Ciro Immobile added a second in the 55th minute with a 25-yard effort.
The Irish then levelled from the spot on 67 minutes through Manchester United's Robbie Brady before skipper Greg Cunningham, of Manchester City, bundled a header over the line four minutes later.
Italy were reduced to ten men in the closing stages of the match when Marco Verrati, of Pescara, saw red for a challenge on Aiden White.
The fixture marked Eunan's second cap for the Republic since he made the switch from Northern Ireland. Should the Irish overhaul second placed Turkey - who they play in their next fixture in August - then they could be in with a shout of appearing in the Play-offs for the finals, which are being held next summer in Israel, as one of the four best runners-up.
As far as any future ambitions of playing for the Irish senior side are concerned, then Eunan need look no further to former Charlton and Aston Villa midfielder Mark Kinsella for inspiration on achieving that goal.
Kinsella appeared for Ireland at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, but ten years earlier, he had been part of the Colchester United side that won promotion back to the Football League.
