U15s win Quadrangular Tournament…21/10/2019

Our Republic of Ireland U15 Squad, guided by Head Coach Jason Donohue, has won the UEFA Quadrangular Development Tournament hosted by Ireland in Mayo this week. Donohue selected a 20 player squad and we were joined in the tournament by the Faroe Islands, Latvia and Luxembourg with matches taking place in Ballina, Castlebar and Westport.

Our final group contest took place in Ballina this Monday morning when Luxembourg were crushed by eight goals to nil. Luxembourg had also won their opening two matches against the Faroe Islands and Latvia. Striker Caden McLoughlin, who is attached to CF Malaga in Spain, scored a hat-trick with Adam Murphy, Kevin Zefi, Gideon Tetteh, Adam Nugent and captain Sam Curtis adding to the total.

In his post match review, Jason Donohue paid tribute to his squad of players and the progress they have and are continuing to make. He also made special mention of FAI High Performance Director Ruud Dockter, the driving force behind the revised and much cultured style of play being effected by Ireland at underage level. Mention was also made of Emerging Talent Programme leader Niall Harrison, who RISSC London members may recall did outline the progress being made when he was our guest a few years ago. Members may even recall some of the emerging players namechecked by Niall that night who are currently underpinning Stephen Kenny‘s U21 side.

Our second engagement took place in Westport on Saturday afternoon when we secured a comfortable four nil victory over the Faroe Islands. Local lad Adam Nugent opened the scoring in the first half and second half goals from Sam Curtis, an O.G. and the fourth, two minutes before the end, from another local lad and captain Daniel Kelly set the seal on victory. Our own James McManus started in midfield this afternoon.

Ireland commenced our challenge on Thursday afternoon last with a three one victory over Latvia in Solar 21 Park, Castlebar. Ireland were the dominated side throughout the first half but were unable to translate their superiority into goals. The goal drought position was remedied in the second half with Belvedere forward Adam Murphy firing home on 49 minutes. Murphy was replaced four minutes later by Westport lad Adam Nugent and he certainly made an impact, scoring twice in the next ten minutes. The visitors did score a goal twelve minutes before the end but Ireland were always in command. RISSC (London) member James McManus was introduced from the substitute bench on 70 minutes and is expected to see more match time in the next two fixtures.

Team v Luxembourg 21.10.2019
Conor Walsh; Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh, Daniel Kelly, Sam Curtis(C), Finn Cowper-Gray; Justin Ferizaj, James McManus; Adam Murphy; Kevin Zefi, Caden McLoughlin, Giddeon Tetteh

Substitutes:
Shay O’Leary for Walsh 41′
Cathal Heffernan for Cowper-Gray 41′
Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh for McManus 41′
Murray for Tetteh 41′
Trisden Wholey-Hughes for O’Brien-Whitmarsh 49′
Cian Barrett for Ferizaj 49′
Adam Nugent for McLoughlin 49′
Eanna Fitzgerald for Murphy 56′
Mark Tansey for Zefi 56′

Team v Faroe Islands 19.10.2019
Conor Walsh; Trisden Wholey-Hughes, Daniel Kelly(C), Cathal Heffernan, Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh; Eanna Fitzgerald, Cian Barrett, James McManus; Murray, Adam Nugent, Mark Tansey

Substitutes:
Sam Curtis for Heffernan 41′
Finn Cowper-Gray for O’Brien-Whitmarsh 41′
Kevin Zefi for Tansey 56′
Giddeon Tetteh for Barrett 64′
Adam Murphy for Murray 64′
Caden McLoughlin for Nugent 64′
Justin Ferizaj for McManus 65′

Team v Latvia 17.10.2019
Shay O’Leary; Finn Cowper-Gray, Luke O’Brien, Cathal Heffernan, Sam Curtis; Justin Ferizaj, Adam Murphy, Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh; Kevin Zefi, Caden McLoughlin, Giddeon Tetteh

Substitutes:
Mark Tansey for Tetteh 49′
Cian Barrett for O’Brien-Whitmarsh 53′
Adam Nugent for Murphy 53′
James McManus for Ferizaj 70′
Murray for McLoughlin 71′