Soccer Scene

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17.04.2008 at 19:30 St Colmans Park Cobh Attendance:
Under18 0 - 0 Malta
Referee: Eddie McNally (Cork)/Dan Deady (Midleton) Friendly-match

Goalscorers
None. None
Opening squads
Brian Kane
Darren Murray
Shane O'Connor
Daniel Langan
Robert Waters
Joseph O'Neill
Kevin Dawson
Eoin Hanrahan
David Mc Daid
Gavin Falconer
David Shovlin
 Balzan;
Aquilina,
Farraugia,
Xerri,
Bugeja;
Micallef,
Scerri (capt),
Casser,
M. Busuttil;
Ciantar,
Vella.
Substitutes
Kevin Burns
Enda Stevens
Keith Ward
David O'Neill
Patrick Madden
Substitutions
Kevin Burns -> Brian Kane (46)
Patrick Madden -> Gavin Falconer (46)
Keith Ward -> Robert Waters (61)
David O'Neill -> Eoin Hanrahan (69)
Enda Stevens -> David Shovlin (83)
 N. Busuttil for Micallef (ht) Cauchi for M. Busuttil (ht)
Grech for Scerri (65 mins)
Yellow cards
None. None
Red cards
None. Miguel Ciantar 85
Terence Vella 86
Other statistics
0 Shots 0
0 Shots on goal 0
0 Offsides 0
0 Corner kicks 0
0 Free kicks 0
0 Penalties 0
Match report
Republic of Ireland U18 0 - 0 Malta U18

The Republic of Ireland and Malta played out a goalless draw in the second of their U-18 friendly matches at St. Colman's Park in Cobh.

Ireland enjoyed majority possession and created the bulk of the scoring chances but Malta's stubborn defence held firm for the 90 minutes as the Maltese ended the tie with nine men.

Ireland with nine changes to the team that beat the Maltese by a goal-to-nil at Turner's Cross on Tuesday night made the better start and three times in the opening quarter of an hour they were close to taking the lead.

Eoin Hanrahan was just wide in Ireland's first attack, Dave Shovlin shot over and then Hanrahan again fired into the side-netting from Robbie Waters' cross as the home team swarmed all over the opposition.

The game was 32 minutes old when we had the unusual sight of match referee,
Eddie McNally retiring with a calf strain and Midleton's Dan Deady, the fourth official, stepped into the breach for the rest of the action.

Shane O'Connor's free kick picked out Gavin Falconer inside the box but he
flashed his drive over the crossbar just before the interval.

Ireland created more chances after the break with David McDaid and Tuesday's match winner Paddy Madden both going close to breaking the deadlock.

Malta ended the match with nine men when their star player Miguel Ciantar and Terence Vella were both sent off in the space of a minute with some five minutes to go.

Teams:

Republic of Ireland (3-5-2) - Kane (WFTA); O'Connor (St, Joseph's Boys), Langan (Home Farm), O'Neill (Sporting Fingal) capt; Murray (WFTA), Waters (Cork City), Shovlin (Drumkeen Utd), Dawson (St. Kevin's Boys), Hanrahan (Fairview Rangers); McDaid (Derry City) & Falconer (Tramore AFC).
Subs. Burns (Tramore AFC) for Kane & Madden (WFTA) for Falconer (both half-
time), Ward (St. Kevin's Boys) for Waters (61 mins), D. O'Neill (Arklow Town) for Hanrahan (69 mins), Stevens (Cherry Orchard) for Shovlin (83 mins).

Malta (4-4-2) - Balzan; Aquilina, Farraugia, Xerri, Bugeja; Micallef, Scerri (capt), Casser, M. Busuttil; Ciantar, Vella.
Subs. N. Busuttil for Micallef & Cauchi for M. Busuttil (both half-time), Grech for Scerri (65 mins)

Referee: Eddie McNally (Cork)/Dan Deady (Midleton)
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