Scotland 1 - 0 Republic of Ireland
The Republic of Ireland women's U17 team were frustrated twice in their opening match in the UEFA Championship qualifying series in France when they had the ball in the Scotland net twice only to be whistled back for infringements.
Scotland were physically the stronger team and were buoyed by a first half lead goal that put them in control of the game. But a spirited Ireland side came back strongly at them and were a little unfortunate that one, at least, of the "goals" that Amy Ryan put into the net did not count.
Ireland will continue to seek the results they need to make it to the second qualifying stage when they play hosts France and Norway in the coming days.
Scotland took the lead after 28 minutes when the Scottish attack followed up on a Niamh Reid Burke clearance; the resulting goal-mouth scramble in the Irish box was poked home by the Scottish to give their side a deserved lead at half time.
The Irish responded very strongly after half time and Stella Maris player, Amy Ryan had the ball in the net on two occasions but the officials ruled them offside.
The Irish now clearly face a difficult task in advancing from a group that also includes France and Norway. Ireland play the hosts France on Thursday and complete the qualifying tournament by playing Norway on Sunday.
The Republic of Ireland squad will not concede until it is a mathematical certainty that they cannot advance. Manager, Noel King, spoke of their disappointment at having the ball in the Scottish net twice only to be denied by the referee's whistle but took a lot of positives from the game.
“We didn’t start very well at all and we may have been lucky to be going in at the break at just one goal down.
"The girls responded marvellously in the second half - the Scottish side were big and strong but the girls challenged for everything and they really pushed hard for the equaliser in the closing minutes.
“I would have hoped that we could have started the game with the same purpose that we finished the game, I feel that the goal we conceded had a strong suspicion of offside and to have two goals at the other end disallowed was disappointing.
"This team have taken massive strides forward; we are competing with some of the strongest sides in Europe and I feel that we have to be qualifying for the Elite Qualifying phases year-in and year-out to gain that experience.
"Our long term plans are about developing the game at this level and I hope that in the near future we will be strong contenders and not just participants,” added King.
Sixteen of the original 40 entrants are still in the running to reach the finals, and will compete in four second qualifying round mini-tournaments.
In the Final tournament in Nyon, the top three finishers will qualify for the inaugural FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in New Zealand from 28 October to 16 November, 2008.
UEFA WOMEN’S UNDER 17 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP 2007/08
16TH – 24TH MARCH, 2008
FRANCE
Elite Qualifying Phase - GROUP 2
Teams
France
Norway
Republic of Ireland
Scotland
Fixtures
Tuesday, 18th March
Scotland 1-0 Republic of Ireland
Stadium Jean Laffon of PERPIGNAN
Kick-off: 4.00pm
Thursday, 20th March
France v Republic of Ireland
Stadium Jean Laffon of PERPIGNAN
Kick-off: 4.00pm (local time)
Sunday 23rd March
Republic of Ireland v Norway
Stadium Jean Laffon of PERPIGNAN
Kick-off: 3.00pm (local time)
Republic of Ireland
Niamh Reid Burke – Raheny
Anna McCormack - Cam Celtic
Megan Campbell – Moneymore
Emer Flatley - Salthill Devon
Emily Hanney - Stella Maris
Karen Duggan – Piltown
Amy Ryan - Stella Maris
Julie Ann Russell - Salthill Devon
Gillian McDonnell - Dundalk City WFC
Zoe Doherty – Carndonagh
Eilish Ward - Finn Valley
Substitutes
Tanya Kennedy - Finn Valley
Dora Gorman - Salthill Devons
Maria Delahunty - Benfica
Maria Harrington - Westport Utd
Sinead Crotty - CFC United (USA)
Lucy Anne Hannon - Salthill Devon FC
Zoe Murphy - Ballincollig FC
Manager
Noel King |
