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18.02.2015 at 11:00 AUL Complex
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Attendance: |
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Ireland Under 16 |
1 - 0
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Denmark
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Referee: |
UEFA U16 Dev Tournament / *PROG-match |
Mark Travers
Thomas O Connor
James Finnerty
Tyreke Wilson
Thomas Byrne
Daniel Mc Kenna
Aaron O Driscoll
Shola Ayoola
Calum Nicell
Jason Molumby
Luke Kiely
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Olsen,
Appelt,
Bruus,
Eskesen,
Holse,
Jakobsen,
Johansen,
Madsen,
Odgaard,
Okkels,
Worts |
An assured display from Tom O’Connor’s U16 charges saw them finish top of their group ahead of Czech Republic, Austria and Denmark in the final match of the UEFA U16 development tournament today at the AUL.
Ireland got off to a perfect start with Cherry Orchard’s Shola Ayoola picking up a loose ball after just two minutes and firing it confidently to the left of a helpless Oskar Snorre Olsen in goal.
Ireland continued to dominate in the opening half hour, maintaining plenty of possession and creating constant problems for the Danish defence, hitting four shots on target. Manchester City’s, Tyreke Wilson, in particular stood out with numerous incisive forays from his left back position to assist Ayoola in the box.
However, the game began to turn Denmark’s way when Irish Captain Daniel McKenna was sin-binned under the tournament’s experimental rules for a challenge on Danish captain Julius Eskensen. The first Danish opportunity came minutes later when a misplaced Luke Kiely pass allowed rangy Danish striker, Jens Odgaard, to spin and turn his man, before releasing Andrea Bruus who surged forward, one on one with the keeper, to shoot low to his left. Mark Travers in goal did very well to get down and clear, keeping Ireland 1-0 up at the break.
In the second half, Ireland began to tire, exacerbated in the 61st minute, when centre half Aaron O’Driscoll was sin-binned for a late challenge, forcing Jack Clarke to drop back and provide cover. Denmark failed to capitalise although Jens Odgaard came close to equalising late on, striking a clever free kick, low under the Irish wall. However Travers again read the situation well and Ireland saw the match out with a well-deserved 1-0 win, and a top of the table finish to the tournament.
Speaking after the match, U16 Head Coach, Tom O’Connor commented, “We hung on in the end after starting very well. Denmark came into the game more as it wore on because the lads had played two very high calibre games against strong opposition in recent days and the legs began to go. Having said that, I must give them full credit for hanging on for the win. We know it is about development but sometimes you have to learn to keep a lead and protect it. Overall, the results in the tournament show the Emerging Talent Programme that we can compete at this level against quality opposition.”
Ireland: Travers, McKenna, Wilson, O’Connor (English ’55), O’Driscoll, Molumby (Clarke ‘22), Ayoola (Porter ‘45), Byrne, Kiely (Hamilton ’70), Nicell (Rice ’45), Finnerty
Denmark: Olsen, Appelt (’45 Buch), Bruus, Eskesen (Sorensen ‘75), Holse, Jakobsen, Johansen, Madsen (Mikkelsen ’45), Odgaard, Okkels (Jakobsen ’75), Worts |
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