Ireland U19: Connolly penalty earns Slovakia draw

Ireland U19 side, guided by Head Coach Tom Mohan, commenced their UEFA Elite Stage challenge with a disappointing one all draw against Slovakia in Complexo Desportivo, Fao on Wednesday afternoon. Mini-Tournament hosts Portugal crushed Kosova by five goals to nil two hours later in the second Group Five contest. In a fractious encounter, which saw seven Irish players cautioned, we went behind on sixty minutes but earned a point with a seventy sixth minute equaliser through an Adan Connolly penalty.

Slovakia: Frederik Valach; Vladimír Majdan, Dominik Špiriak (capt), Denis Petro, Samuel Kozlovský; Martin Bednár, Jozef Špyrka (Branislav Sluka 43); Michal Tomič, Adam Brenkus (Adam Kopas 90+1), Matej Grešák (Marián Chobot 86); Róbert Boženík.

Republic of Ireland: Mark Travers; Daniel McKenna, Canice Carroll, Dara O’Shea (capt), Tyreke Wilson; Conor Coventry (Rowan Roache 67), Thomas O’Connor, Kian Flanagan; Lee O’Connor, Jonathan Afolabi, Aaron Connolly

Referee: Kristo Tohver (EST)

Republic of Ireland Under 19s Team Page