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17.09.2011 at 19:00 Dr. Américo Couto - Mealhada
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Attendance: |
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Portugal |
0 - 1
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Ireland Under 19 |
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Referee: Sara Persson (SWE) |
European Championship Qualifier-match |
Under-19 UEFA Womens Championship first phase qualifier
Republic of Ireland 1-0 Portugal
Aileen Gilroy 71
The Republic of Ireland Womens Under-19 team had to be patient in their opening UEFA Championship first phase qualifier on Saturday evening but eventually accounted for mini-group hosts Portugal thanks to Aileen Gilroys second-half strike.
Ireland had started nervously at the Américo Couto Stadium in Mealhada and could have found themselves behind by the break only for a couple of terrific saves by goalkeeper Grace Maloney.
Still, the Girls in Green had much the better of the contest overall in terms of possession and goalscoring chances. The winner from Mayo native Gilroy arrived during a sustained period of pressure by Dave Connells side.
The consequence of Ireland's result, coupled with Hungarys 1-0 success over Israel in the other Group 2 game contested on Saturday, means a victory by any score for Ireland on Israel at the De Anadia Stadium in Anadia will seal them one of the two berths available into next years second, elite phase.
The 71st minute goal was sourced with the aid of Siobhan Killeens sprint down the left. She cut in onto her right foot and found Claire Shine, whose shot deflected off a defender into the path of Gilroy to toe-poke home past Barbara Santos in the Portugal goal.
Further scoring chances were created by the Irish in that second half. Gilroys weaving run from the left concluded with a shot that clipped the crossbar.
Her strike partner, Shine, also came close when her effort from the edge of the box skewed a yard wide.
Though not without its imperfections, the performance pleased Ireland's Head Coach Dave Connell.
"It was a shaky start for the team, perhaps down to them not playing competitively for over a year, but once the opening 15 minutes passes, we dominated the match and produced the vast bulk of chances," he said.
"The priority was keeping a clean sheet, as I knew we had score to win the game. Portugal gave us a very good game on their home patch and our girls had to dig in for the result."
REP OF IRELAND U-19: Maloney (Reading); O Brien (Tramore), Byrne (Bealnamulla), Glesson (Tramore), Farmer (Wilton United); Grant (Kilmacrennan Celtic), Gorman (Salthill Devon), Hansbury (Strand Celtic), Killeen (Raheny United); Gilroy (Killala), Shine (Douglas Hall).
Subs: Murphy (Wilton United) for Hansbury (73 mins), Hegarty (Ballina) for O Brien (84 mins), Jarrett (Wexford) for Shine (90 mins).
UEFA Under-19 Womens European Championship
Group 2
Saturday 17 September
Portugal 1-0 Republic of Ireland (7pm) - Dr. Américo Couto Stadium, Mealhada
Hungary 1-0 Israel (5pm) - Oliveira do Bairro Municipal Stadium
Monday 19 September
Israel v Republic of Ireland (5pm) - De Anadia Stadium, Anadia
Hungary v Portugal (7pm) - Dr. Américo Couto Stadium, Mealhada
Thursday 22 September
Republic of Ireland v Hungary (7pm) - Luso Training Center
Portugal v Israel (7pm) - Agueda Municipal Stadium. |
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