Under-16 Malta friendly tournament
Republic of Ireland 1-0 Italy
The Republic of Ireland Under-16 recorded victory against Italy on Sunday in their first fixture of the Malta International tournament.
Selcuk Tidim’s struck the only goal of the game with 13 minutes remaining, putting the finishing touch to a flowing move that involved Shane Murray, Oliver Kelly and Ryan Connolly.
The FC Pauli striker connected with Connolly’s cross from the left, giving the Italian goalkeeper no chance.
The goal was Tidim’s fourth in his past four matches after the German-born striker declared for Ireland through his mother.
His rich vein of form began on his debut against Belgium and he followed that up with a goal in each of the matches against Israel.
Ireland’s main threat in the first half came through centre-back Mark O’Brien. Twice the Cherry Orchard defender got the better of his marker in the box from corner kicks but he saw one of his headers saved and the other angle over the crossbar.
Tidim was presented with a great chance to break the deadlock, also in the first half, but contrived to blast his close-range shot over the bar following another teasing centre by Connolly.
More chances were spurned by Oliver Kelly and Shane Murray in the second half but it was left for Tidim to secure the victory on 67 minutes.
Irish manager Vincent Butler said in the aftermath of the win. “It was very pleasing performance and all the players did the jobs they were asked to do.
“Selcuk came up with another goal for us and, in the end, we could have won the game by a larger margin.”
Butler has guaranteed the seven players not in the line-up against Italy a starting place in the team which meets Malta on on Tuesday. Ireland will complete their group on Thursday by playing Turkey, who defeated Malta 2-0 in the other group game played on Sunday.
Ireland: Ciaran Gallagher (Castlefin), Leigh Swords (Belvedere), Daniel Joyce (Belvedere), Mark O'Brien (Cherry Orchard), Anthony O'Connor (Kilreen Celtic), Sean Stewart (St. Kevin’s Boys), Shane Murray (Arklow Town), Sean Skelly (Belvedere), Ryan Connolly (Derby County), Oliver Kelly (Reading), Selcuk Tidim (FC St.Pauli).
Substitutes: Daniel Fitzsimons (Millwall) for Swords (65 mins) and Anthony Bolger (St. Kevin’s Boys) for Bolger (75 mins).
Fixtures
Sunday, 16th March 2008
Italy 0-1 Republic of Ireland
National Stadium Training Grounds
Kick-off: 11.00am
Tuesday, 18th March 2008
Malta v Republic of Ireland
National Stadium Training Grounds
Kick-off: 1.00pm.
Thursday, 20th March 2008
Turkey v Republic of Ireland
National Stadium Training Grounds
Kick-off: 11.00am. |
