Republic of Ireland 3 Estonia 2
The Republic of Ireland Under-16 got their season off to a winning start as they came from a goal down at the break to beat Estonia at Home Farm FC, Whitehall.
Ireland went a goal down on 12 minutes when Kaspar Paur released Bogdan Vastsuk into space down the right flank and he chipped the advancing Eric Grimes in the hosts goal.
Darragh Walsh and Gary O Neill went close to levelling before the break but it was not until the second half that the boys in green found their range.
O Neill supplied the equaliser on 51 minutes with a curled effort from the edge of the box and the Kingdom Boys attacker put Ireland ahead two minutes later with a superb finish after Ireland worked the ball out from defence.
Estonia were back on terms four minutes later with Kevin Kauber beating Grimes with a low shot following a slick passing movement.
However, Ireland pressed on for the winner and it came eleven minutes from time when defender Dan O Reilly got in front of his marker inside the box to head home O Neills corner from the left.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Grimes (Ringmahon Rangers); Long (Crumlin United), D. O Reilly (Cherry Orchard), McConnell (Glencar Celtic), McGrath (Nenagh FC); McGlade (Shelbourne), Murphy (Rockmount), Caldwell (Lourdes Celtic), Wixted (Stella Maris); O Neill (Kingdom Boys); Walsh (Shelbourne).
Subs: Leddy (Cavan Shamrocks) for Caldwell (55 mins), Lyons (Barna United) for Wixted (60 mins), Hayes (St. Josephs Boys) for Lyons (Barna United) - inj (72 mins), Coyne (Cherry Orchard) for Murphy (77 mins)
Referee: Phil Caschera. |
