Under-18 Friendly International
Germany 2-3 Republic of Ireland
The Republic of Ireland Under-18 team produced a magnificent performance to claim victory against Germany today in a friendly match played in Hassfurt.
Ireland coach Joe Boyle said beforehand that his players were keen to eradicate the mistakes which cost them a heavy 4-0 defeat in the first game played between the nations on Tuesday.
That certainly proved to be the case as Ireland took the game to the hosts in front of a crowd of 2,200.
The Germans are officially the third best team in the World having won the 3rd/4th place play-off at the Under-17 World Championships in Korea last summer. Ireland can take plenty of positives from this week’s exercise as they build for next season’s Under-19 UEFA Championship qualifiers.
Ireland led 2-0 at half-time thanks to an own-goal after 9 minutes and McCarthy’s strike three minutes before the break.
Kevin Wolze of Bolton Wanderers cut the arrears shortly after the restart but another splendid finish by McCarthy, the Hamilton Academicals first-team player, on 62 minutes regained Ireland’s two goal cushion.
Borussia Dortmund starlet Marcel Kandziora replied for Germany with 21 minutes remaining to make it 3-2 but Ireland held on to seal a fantastic win.
Republic of Ireland:
Kieron Thorp - Crystal Palace
David Joyce - Birmingham City
Gavin Gunning - Blackburn Rovers
Laurence Gaughan - Celtic
Danny Kelly - Norwich City
Jack Roberts - Lincoln City
Jamie Devitt – Hull City
Damian McCrory - Plymouth Argyle
James O'Brien - Birmingham City
James McCarthy - Hamilton Academicals
Sean Scannell - Crystal Palace
Substitutes:
Conor Clifford - Chelsea
David Maguire - Shrewsbury Town
Shane O'Connor - Liverpool
Patrick Madden - WFTA
Joe Collins - Portsmouth
Kurtis Byrne - Hibernian. |
