Jayson Molumby relished taking on Aaron Ramsey after getting the late nod to start only his second game for Ireland.
Molumby impressed as he kept tabls on the Wales skipper who is now playing in Serie A.
"You want to play against the best players and he’s up there with the best in his position in the world," said the Waterford-born midfielder, who was on loan to Milwall from Brighton but is now back with the Premier League club.
"Him playing at a huge club in Juventus, it was a huge challenge, a difficult challenge, but I thought we did quite well to be honest as a team. There are plenty of positives to take."
Molumby was hopeful of his chance of involvement but he was a late pick to start due to the unavailability of five players due to a positive Covid case in the squad.
"I don’t think it was difficult," stressed the 21-year-old. "You’re always ready to play for your counry and hoping you will get picked.
"I was just happy to play and wanted to do my best for the team. It was an honour to play for my country.
"Obviously I want to do my best and when the gaffer put me in the team - albeit he was probably forced more to put me in - I was happy to do well for him.
"On another day we come away with three points, so we’re a bit gutted.
"I know the gaffer well and he has been good to me all week. I know him from last year so I probably know what to expect from him more than anyone else and what he wants from us players so I just tried doing the exact same as what he wanted from me with the 21s.
"There's a lot of staff that he brought with him and it just felt like normal coming in. I wasn’t so nervous because I knew everyone and obviously we want to do well for Stephen because we’re all buzzing with the way he wants to play.
"There are a lot of positives to take. Obviously we’re missing key men in attacking options, so on another day two or three of them go in the back of the net".
