Our U17 side, under the guidance of Head Coach Colin O’Brien, recovered from a two goal deficit to secure a two all draw with Poland in Turner’s Cross this Wednesday afternoon to top the qualifying group and progress to the next stage of the 2022 European Championships.
A 12th minute penalty conceded by captain Cathal Heffernan was followed by a second Polish goal eight minutes later to shock all in Turner’s Cross. Local striker Mark O’Mahony diffused some of the tension with a goal on 27 minutes to reduce the deficit. Half-time substitute Justin Ferizaj levelled matters just after the hour mark and so the score remained to the end.
RISSC (London) Club member James McManus was a mainstay for Ireland in central midfield throughout the mini-tournament.
Team: Conor Walsh; Luke Browne, Sam Curtis, Cathal Heffernan (c), Luke O’Brien; Darius Lipsivc, James McManus, Rocco Vata; Franco Umeh, Mark O’Mahony, Kevin Zefi
Substitutes:
Justin Ferizaj for Lipsivc 46′
Trent Kone Doherty for Umeh 77′
In the other contest, North Macedonia defeated Andorra by six goals to nil in the Mardyke at the same time.
P W D L F A g/d Pts
Ireland 3 2 1 0 9 2 7 7
Poland 3 1 2 0 3 2 1 5
N Macedonia 3 1 1 1 6 2 4 4
Andorra 3 0 0 3 0 12 -12 0
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Our U17 team continued their 2022 Group 5 European Championship qualifying campaign with a two nil victory over North Macedonia on Sunday evening in Turner’s Cross which ensures their progress to the next stage of the qualification campaign. This was a tougher challenge than Thursday’s victory over Andorra but Rocco Vata‘s goal on 31 minutes eased any anxiety and local lad Mark O’Mahony added the second on 73 minutes to ensure victory.
Team: Conor Walsh; Luke Browne, Sam Curtis, Cathal Heffernan (c), Luke O’Brien; Justin Ferizaj, James McManus, Rocco Vata; Kone Doherty, Mark O’Mahony, Kevin Zefi
Substitutes:
Franco Umeh for Doherty 71′
Caden McLoughlin for Vata 80′
Alex Nolan for Zefi 89′
In the other contest, Poland defeated Andorra by one goal to nil in the Mardyke on Sunday afternoon.
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Our U17 team guided by Head Coach Colin O’Brien commenced their 2022 Group 5 European Championship qualifying campaign with a comprehensive five nil victory over Andorra on Thursday evening in Turner’s Cross, Cork. Justin Ferizaj gave Ireland the lead on 13 minutes with a fine individual goal and that was the only goal of the first half. The second half saw Ireland take complete command and a goal on 59 minutes from Mark O’Mahony, who had been introduced from the substitute bench just two minutes earlier, was the forerunner for further strikes from Kevin Zefi (69′), Sam Curtis (74′) and Rocco Vata (76′). RISSC (London) member James McManus, son of long standing member Pat McManus, completed the full 90 minutes in midfield.
Team: Conor Walsh; Luke Browne, Sam Curtis, Cathal Heffernan (c), Luke O’Brien; Justin Ferizaj, James McManus, Rocco Vata; Franco Umeh, Caden McLoughlin, Kevin Zefi
Substitutes:
Mark O’Mahony for McLoughlin 57′
Alex Nolan for Umeh 70′
Darius Lipsivc for Ferizaj 80′
Liam Murray for Vata 80′
North Macedonia and Poland, kicked-off the qualifying process at 2pm in The Mardyke, Cork where they played out a scoreless draw.
Sunday 10 October: Poland v Andorra – The Mardyke – 2pm. RoI v North Macedonia – Turner’s Cross – 7pm
Wednesday 13 October: Andorra v North Macedonia – The Mardyke – 1pm. RoI v Poland – Turner’s Cross – 1pm
Squad
Goalkeepers: Fintan Doherty (Derry City), Conor Walsh (Sligo Rovers)
Defenders: Luke Browne (Shelbourne), Sam Curtis (St Patrick’s Athletic), Cathal Heffernan (Cork City), Ruadhan Kane (Klub Kildare), Daniel Kelly (Sligo Rovers), Luke O’Brien (St Patrick’s Athletic)
Midfielders: Justin Ferizaj (Shamrock Rovers), Gavin Hodgkin (Shelbourne), Darius Lipsivc (St Patrick’s Athletic), James McManus (Bohemian), Liam Murray (Cork City), Franco Umeh (Cork City), Rocco Vata (Glasgow Celtic)
Forwards: Trent Kone Doherty (Derry City), Caden McLoughlin (Villareal), Alex Nolan (St Patrick’s Athletic), Mark O’Mahony (Cork City), Kevin Zefi (Inter Milan)