The Republic of Ireland Women’s Under 19 side recorded a 5-1 victory against Croatia today as Sue Ronan’s side took a massive step towards qualification to the UEFA Championship elite qualifying phase.
Dundalk City starlet, Gillian McDonnell scored four goals as she wrapped up the three points for the Irish.
The Irish looked to attack straight from the kick-off and it took just five minutes before they were rewarded with a well worked goal, Catriona McGilp made a darting run through centre-midfield and played a sublime through-ball to McDonnell who made no mistake with the finish from close range to open the scoring.
Ten minutes later, Croatia drew level, somewhat against the run of play, Croatian striker, Katrina Kolan who looked marginally off-side ran on to a long ball and placed it over Lynn Dowling in the Irish goal.
The Irish responded magnificently and after some very patient build up play, Catriona McGilp slipped the ball to Aine O’Gorman on the left wing and swung in an inviting cross to Julieanne Russell who was positioned at the edge of the six yard box, Russell made no mistake and blasted the ball home from close range.
Immediately after the following kick-off, the Irish regained possession it was Russell once again who made a cutting run through the Croatian defence, she breezed past two challenges and pulled the ball back for Gillian McDonnell who calmly slotted the ball past the keeper.
Ireland continued to dominate proceedings in the second half, Salthill Devon’s inspirational midfielder, Russell was on hand once again to provide a teasing cross from the left wing, Gillian McDonnell took the ball out of the air with a killer touch and smashed the ball past the helpless keeper on 72 minutes to secure her hat-trick.
McDonnell added further woes for the Croatian goalkeeper, Natea Calusic as she completed the scoring with five minutes remaining, centre-half, Louise Quinn played a long ball from defence which McDonnell controlled and calmly slotted past the keeper to make it 5-1.
Irish manager, Susan Ronan, was happy with the score-line but pointed out that her side could have done better, “That was a satisfactory result for the team today but I certaintly feel that we should have played a lot better throughout the game, at times we were a bit sluggish and we played the game at a pace that suited the Croatians, that being said to win your first game in a UEFA Championships qualifier by five goals to one; that’s not to be snuffed at!”
Commenting on some individual performance today, Ronan was impressed with some of the younger members of the team, “Julienne Russell and Gillian McDonnell were magnificent, these players are still playing for our under 17 side and they made a massive step up to this top level of UEFA competition.
In today’s other UEFA Championship, 1st Qualifying Phase game, Switzerland survived some early scares from the host nation, Slovakia as they ran out 3-0 winners. Today’s results leaves the Republic of Ireland and Switzerland in a commanding position as they seek to progress to the next round of qualifying.
Susan Ronan’s side now face hosts, Slovakia on Saturday, September, 29th before a crunch game against a strong Switzerland next Tuesday, with the top two teams progressing to the Elite Qualifying phase of the competition. The finals will take place in France from the 7th -19th July, 2008.
Fixtures and Results
Thursday, September 27th 2007
Republic of Ireland 5-1 Croatia
Switzerland 3-0 Slovakia
Saturday, September 29th 2007
Slovakia v Republic of Ireland
(Nemsova)
Kick-off: 11am (local time)
Switzerland v Croatia
Tuesday, October 2nd 2007
Republic of Ireland v Switzerland
Nove Mesto nad Vahom)
Kick-off: 11am (local time)
Croatia v Slovakia
Republic of Ireland
Lynn Dowling (Bradley) - Raheny United
Susan Hackett - Stella Maris
Louise Quinn - Peamount
Catriona McGilp - Cabinteely FC
Grace Murray - Dundalk City WFC
Lynn-Marie Grant - Lifford
Gillian McDonnell - Dundalk City WFC
Julienne Russell - Salthill Devon
Áine O’Gorman - Stella Maris
Noelle Murray - Raheny United
Stephanie Roche - Dundalk City WFC
Subs
Niamh Reid-Burke - Raheny United
Catriona McGilp - Cabinteely FC
Karen Duggan – Piltown on for Susan Hackett 62 mins
Amanda Parkes - Wilton United
Jennifer Critchley – Lifford on for Gracy Murray, 45 mins
Christina Byrne - Raheny United
Kara Mullins – Galway Bohs on for Stephanie Roche, 68 mins
Patrice Kearney – Wilton United |
