Republic of Ireland 1 Norway 0
Charlton Athletic's Derry-born midfielder Neil McCafferty came up trumps for Brian Kerr's Republic of Ireland u16 team last night, with the goal that beat well-organised Norway.
McCafferty struck with a sweet curling shot from eighteen yards after Belvedere's Mark O'Brien had set him up, minutes before half time.
Ireland should have taken the lead as early as the 17th minute, when Leeds United's Paul Keegan rose unmarked to head a McCafferty corner towards goal, only to see it blocked on the line by defender Mjelde.
Seven minutes later it was the home side's turn to clear one off the line, Aston Villa's Paul Ennis doing the necessary after Olsen had skipped around 'keeper Morgan Cranley.
But Keegan was unlucky with another chance to put Ireland in front on the half-hour mark. Spotting Norwegian 'keeper Almennigen off his line, the Leeds player launched a delicate chip from 25 yards. But Almennigen scrambled back top to make a fingertip save.
Republic of Ireland: Morgan Cranley (Grimsby Town), Ciaran Sharkey (Belvedere), Eddie Keyes (Belvedere), Chris McGrath (Liverpool), Pierre Ennis (Aston Villa), Neil McCafferty (Charlton Athletic), Paul Keegan (Leeds United), Darren Potter (Liverpool), Mark O'Brien (Belvedere) Stephen Maguire (Belvedere) Robbie Shields (Leeds United),
Subs: Vincent Tyrell (Home Farm) for Sharkey 32, Killian Brennan (Home Farm) for O'Brien 63, Denis Behan (Abbeyfeale) for Maguire 66, Simon Cox (Reading) for Cranley 75
Unused subs: John Flood (St. Joseph's Boys), Pierce Power (Ferrybank), Brian Gannon (Lourdes Celtic) |
