Category: Underage & Domestic Round-up

Head Coach Dave Connell has named a twenty player squad for a Triangular Invitation Tournament taking place at Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate, York over the coming week. Ireland opened the competition with a one all draw against Northern Ireland on Saturday evening but lost the penalty shoot-out to determine the winners. They will next face hosts England at 12.30pm in the same venue on Wednesday afternoon.

Rep. Ireland U16 squad completed their involvement in the UEFA Development Tournament being hosted by Sweden early on Tuesday morning with a 5-3 penalty shoot-out success following a one all draw against Turkey in Munkedal.

Led by Head Coach Paul Osam, an Ireland U16 squad of twenty has travelled to Sweden to compete in a Quadangular Tournament. In their opening contest the side went down to a two nil deferat by the hosts in Lysekill at 5.30pm on Friday afternoon. They next take on Austria at 2pm on Sunday in Stenungsund before completing their involvement at 10am on Tuesday morning against Turkey in Munkedal.

Ireland exited the 2018 UEFA U17 Championship Finals in controversial circumstances at the quarter-final stage this evening in Chesterfield. Favourites Holland went through on a 5-4 penalty shoot-out scoreline following a one all draw.

Ireland delivered a disciplined defensive performance breached only by a sixty second minute header following a ‘Dutch’ corner. The response was immediate with Troy Parrott equalising two minutes later with a finely crafted goal.

Adam Idah had his disappointing opening penalty in the shoot-out saved comfortably and thereafter both sides converted their four penalties leaving the drama to unfold with the ‘Dutch’ captain seeing his spot kick saved by goalkeeper Jimmy Corcoran. However the Cherry Orchard man, who is bound for Preston North End, did move off his line and the kick was required to be retaken. The referee then chose to issue a yellow card to Corcoran which given he had been cautioned in normal time resulted in his dismissal.

Newcastle United defender Oisin McEntee donned the goalkeeper shirt but was unable to save the re-taken penalty which ended our interest in the competition. Corcoran’s caution and dismissal seemed disproportionate to the movement offence and Head Coach Colin O’Brien was joined on the pitch at the end by senior manager Martin O’Neill with both clearly furious with the referee.

Republic of Ireland Under 17s Team Page

Ireland will take on favourites Holland at the quarter-final stage of the 2018 UEFA U17 Championship at 7pm on Monday evening in the Chesterfield FC Stadium. The match will be shown live in Ireland on RTE 2 and online at RTE Player while UEFA.Com will also provide international coverage.

Following the disappointment of their opening defeat by Belgium, our U17 side faced a seminal challenge where victory was essential and achieved with a one nil success over Denmark at St George’s Park on Tuesday afternoon in their second Group C contest of the 2018 UEFA U17 Championship finals. A fifth minute strike from Tottenham Hotspur youngster Troy Parrott settled early nerves as Ireland dominated the first half.

The second period proved more fraught with the Danes pressing for the equaliser, however Ireland should have eased their tension with two excellent chances squandered. Bolton Wanderers youngster Luca Connell, introduced today at left back, caught the eye with an impressive display in front of the watching senior management duo of Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane. First round victors Belgium and Bosnia & Herzegovina are curently in action at Rotherham United FC with Belgium holding a two nil half-time advantage.

Ireland commenced their 2018 UEFA U17 Championship challenge when they went down to a two nil defeat by Belgium in their opening Group C encounter on Saturday evening in the Loughborough University Stadium. Ireland entered the finals as top qualifying seeds but a very poor performance belied that status. Fellow Group C rivals, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Denmark met at the same venue earlier in the afternoon with Bosnia coming from behind to secure a three two victory.