BELGIUM U-16 A 1-4 REP OF IRELAND U-16 A
The Republic of Ireland Under-16s produced a vastly-improved display on Tuesdays defeat as they overcame Belgium at the Stadium RCX Verviétois in the second part of this weeks double-header.
Ireland Head Coach John Morling gave starts to all his substitutes from the first game, apart from goalkeeper Harry Doherty who had sustained a knock in training.
Striker Stephen Confey made his first start of the campaign and did not waste time in making an impression.
With less than a minute played, Corey Galvin burst clear on goal to force a save and following up was St. Kevins Boys Confey to finish the rebound.
It got better for Confey and Ireland on 20 minutes when their lead was doubled. Chris Flanagan fed Alex O Hanlon on the left and he set up Confey to convert at the second attempt.
Belgium are a classy outfit and forced their way back into the contest twelve minutes after the restart by halving the deficit.
Still, Ireland maintained their passing game and the rewards followed Craig Donnellan, Ryan Rainey and O Hanlon were all involved in setting up Jake Mulraney to make it 3-1.
Peter Burke in the Ireland goal was called upon to produce a terrific save low down to his left moments later, yet the Boys in Green kept their shape and bagged a fourth late on. O Hanlon was once again at the hub of the action as his own corner came back to him in space and he applied a subtle lob to deceive the keeper.
REP OF IRELAND A: Peter Burke (Moville Celtic); Liam Traynor (St. Josephs Boys), Noe Baba (Castlebar Celtic), Daniel Cleary (Liverpool), Ryan Rainey (Bonagee Utd); Corey Galvin (Ipswich Town), Chris Flanagan (Glencar), Craig Donnellan (Corinthians), Alex O Hanlon (Liverpool); Jake Mulraney (Nottingham Forest), Stephen Confey (St. Kevins Boys).
Sub: Dean O Halloran (Southend) for C Galvin (74 mins). |
