Ireland gave it their all but it wasn't enough as Austria got the three points to top the group with a solitary goal from Sasa Kalajdzic midway through the second half in Linz.

Caoimhín Kelleher was named Player of the Match and Chiedozie Ogbene almost equalised with a header late on.

The Boys in Green tried everything and came up short. They will now face Kosovo on Tuesday in a battle to finish second and claim a play-off spot for promotion to League A.

A victory over Austria would have given the team the chance to go up automatically on Tuesday. Instead it was a night of frustration in Linz.

Here is how we rated Ireland.

Caoimhín Kelleher – 9

Set the tone early on by diving low to his near post to deny Christoph Baumgartner a goal from a deflected strike.

That was just the start of a night that would also see impressive saves to thwart almost every member of the Austrian forward line.

Ireland were out to record a statement result and the confidence to go on came from Kelleher.

James Abankwah – 7

Two months after making his competitive debut, Abankwah featured once again as the right-wing back in the 3-5-2 system preferred by Heimir Hallgrímsson.

This meant the thankless job of operating as a defender and a winger, by combining defensive duties with the goal of getting forward and putting crosses into the box.

Abankwah stood up to the challenge, especially when it came to his runs down the right wing. There’s plenty of potential there for a player still stepping up and getting used to the pace of senior international football.

Dara O’Shea - 5

O’Shea had no time to settle as Austria targeted Ireland’s right flank from kick-off. The defender worked closely with Collins, while getting forward to add numbers into the box for set-pieces.

Their partnership worked wonders in the 63rd minute after O’Shea lost track of Christoph Baumgartne and the forward ran clean through down the left flank. The two defenders closed down to stop Baumgartne from getting a clean shot away in what was one of the chances for Austria.

O’Shea’s night will be defined by one moment - knocking the ball on for Kalajdzic to get the winning goal.

Nathan Collins – 6

The defender returned to international duty after missing the autumn window and slotted into the middle of a back three between O’Shea and Scales. Collins seemed to be making up for lost time with the sheer number of clearances he made throughout the evening, in addition to his daring runs forward.

The Leixlip native was almost caught out in the 77th minute, but Ireland managed to get the ball out for a corner on that occasion. The set-piece ultimately led to the winning goal, scored by Kalajdzic.

Liam Scales – 7

The Celtic defender was back in Linz three months after losing to LASK in the play-off round for the Champions League. There was no hangover, instead a commanding performance on the left of the back-three between Ryan Manning and Collins.

One of his best, most rounded, displays for his country with his ability to defend and get forward when needed.

Ryan Manning – 7

A solid opening for the defender was almost undone by a stray pass that set up Michael Gregoritsch for a shot in the 11th minute. Scales came to the rescue on that occasion to save the full-back.

The wing back’s consistency was almost rewarded with a goal in the second half from a stunning strike, but the ball was well gathered on that occasion by Alexander Schlager.

Jayson Molumby – 6.5

The midfielder grew into the game after spending the first half covering the back-three.

Molumby came into his own in the second half as things opened up in the middle of the park.

The Waterford native was the water carrier during these exchanges by carrying the ball forward and knitting play together.

Finn Azaz - 5

It took some time for the midfielder to get on the ball after an energetic start that saw the hosts dominate possession.

Azaz was tasked with doing the running during these phases, while covering gaps and closing down passing lanes.

Jack Moylan – 5

The Dubliner played 68 minutes in Linz, slotting in behind Idah and Parrott as the creator.

Moylan’s night was defined by his runs into the box and attempted crosses into the area.

There was no goal threat against an Austrian defence that conceded just five goals going into the game, while his set-pieces were routinely knocked away. It was a frustrating night for one of the brightest prospects in Irish football.

Adam Idah – 5

The Cork native was responsible for picking the ball up and playing it through to Parrott.

It is an idea that has worked and has proven to be successful – with Parrott’s famous goal against Austria at the Aviva Stadium in October proof of that.

There were glimmers in Linz, but the passes rarely threatened to pry the hosts open. Idah ended up performing more as a midfielder than a striker, as Ireland tried to keep possession in the final third and create something.

This did the opposite of playing to the forward’s strengths, despite individual moments of link up play with Parrott.

Troy Parrott - 7

Pestered Austria for the evening and almost scored an incredible bicycle kick with his first real chance.

The striker did everything right with the service he was given, while unselfishly dropping back to create space for the likes of Idah and Moylan.

There was no moment to justify his contribution, or moment of magic like the goal in Dublin.

Substitutes

Chiedozie Ogbene (for Idah 68 mins) - 8

The winger replaced Idah in the 68th minute and immediately injected pace into the Irish forward line.

The Cork native seemed to be everywhere, with an unbound sense of energy that pestered the Austrian backline. Ogbene almost scored with a header but he was denied by an excellent reflex save from Schlager.

Jake O’Brien (for Manning 68 mins) - 5

O’Brien came on and had his night upended by the opening goal as Ireland had to push up in search of an equaliser.

The defender was used more for his height than defensive abilities, in an ill-fated quest that went down to the final seconds.

A different sort of night for a player used to playing as the right-sided centre-back in the back three.

Harvey Vale (for Moylan 68 mins) – 5

A small cameo best seen through passes as opposed to one Hail Mary near the end.

Bosun Lawal (for Abankwah 79 mins) – 5

Introduced as Ireland went all-in in their push for an equaliser. The pace of things did not suit Lawal’s attributes as the clock was red by the time he settled.