|
12.03.2009 at 16:00 Lagos Stadium
|
Attendance: |
|
USA |
1 - 0
|
Womens International Under 17 |
|
Referee: |
Friendly / r-match |
USA 1-0 Republic of Ireland
Gilliland 72mins
The Irish controlled the game for large periods and had a number of golden opportunities to break the deadlock against the strong American selection. Long throw specialist, Megan Campbell almost made two goals for the Irish but for the American keeper. In the well worked training ground manoeuvre, Campbell’s long throws provided Nicole Owens and Stacie Donnelly with clear-cut scoring chances but their close range efforts were well saved by the American goalkeeper.
The Irish suffered two injury set-backs to Tramore duo, Ciara O’Brien and Jessica Gleeson during the game. In the 25th minute, O’Brien was replaced by Salthill Devon’s Dora Gorman while in the 50th minute, Niamh Kearney was brought on for the injured central defender, Gleeson.
The USA scored the game’s winning goal with just eight minutes remaining against the run of play. In a rare USA attack into the Irish half, Finn Valley’s Tanya Kennedy made a splendid tackle just inside her own half but the ball rebounded to USA striker, Gilliland who collected the ball from 25 yards out and ran through on Grace Moloney’s goal and applied a neat finish to win the game for the Americans.
Despite the defeat, Irish manager, Harry Kenny was thrilled with his sides performance against the Americans, “I have said before that the development of women’s football in the USA is one of the highest standards in the world. To dominate a team of their stature for large periods of this game is fantastic, obviously we will be disappointed that we didn’t score but we created enough chances and but for the American keeper, I believe we would have got something from the game,” said the Irish boss.
“I am particularly pleased with the way the team played after the defeat earlier in the week. We made four changes for this game and they came together instantly and I think we were the better team over the course of the game. We will have to pick ourselves up for the final game against the USA on Saturday, we will have to access our injuries in the morning but hopefully I will have a fully fit compliment for the final match. The USA have three separate squads here so we will be playing another fresh American selection on Saturday and I believe that will be difficult,” added Kenny.
Republic of Ireland Team
Grace Moloney - Reading FC
Ciara Grant - Kilmacrennan Celtic
Jessica Gleeson - Tramore FC
Ciara O'Brien - Tramore AFC
Tanya Kennedy - Finn Valley
Megan Campbell - St Francis
Siobhan Killeen - Raheny Utd
Nicole Owens - Raheny Utd
Olivia Smartt - Stella Maris
Stacie Donnelly - Reading FC
Niamh McLaughlin - Greencastle FC
Substitutes
Dora Gorman - Salthill Devon (on for O’ Brien, 25 mins)
Rebecca Kearney - Lakewood Ath (on for McLaughlin 65 mins)
Amanda Budden - Wilton Utd
Avril Kilkelly - Westport Utd (on for Killeen, 73 mins)
Niamh Kearney - Stella Maris (on for Gleeson, 50 mins)
Denise O'Sullivan – Wilton (on for Owens, 60 mins)
Aileen Gilroy - Killala FC (on for Donnelly, 73 mins)
Manager
Harry Kenny |
|
|
