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18.08.2008 at 19:30 Flancare park Attendance: 608
Rep of Ireland Under 19 0 - 1 Portugal
Referee: D. Tomney (Dublin). Midlands Tournament / PROG-match

Goalscorers
None. Rui Fonte 46 mins;
Opening squads
Gerard Hanley
Gavin Gunning
Danny Kelly
Callum Morris
Olanrewaju Oyebanjo
Conor Henderson
Damien Mc Crory
Kurtis Byrne
James O'Brien
Patrick Madden
Ian Daly
Lopes;
Pinto,
Mendes,
Pereira,
Rosado;
Simao,
Martins,
Rui,
Almedia;
Fonte,
Oliveira.
Substitutes
Jamie Devitt
Conor Clifford
Paul Murphy- 91
Michael Collins -90
Darragh Mc Namara
Ruca,
Dinis,
Viana,
Leo,
Reis,
Sana,
Wilson.
Substitutions
Conor Clifford -> James O'Brien (58)
Michael Collins -90 -> Ian Daly (58)
Jamie Devitt -> Kurtis Byrne (64)
Darragh Mc Namara -> Patrick Madden (69)
Paul Murphy- 91 -> Conor Henderson (82)
None
Yellow cards
None. None
Red cards
None. None
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
Under-19 Midlands International Tournament

Republic of Ireland 0-1 Portugal

One goal was enough for Portugal to earn a victory over the Republic of Ireland Under-19s tonight at Flancare Park.

The winning goal was scored in first half injury time by Arsenal striker Rui Fonte.

Callum Morris (pictured left) came closest to breaking the deadlock for Ireland midway through the first half when his looped header from Kurtis Byrne’s in-swinging free-kick beat the goalkeeper Lopes but landed on the roof of the net.

Irish goalkeeper Ger Hanley was called into action shortly afterwards when, on 24 minutes, he got down brilliantly to the right to keep out Diogo Rosado’s curling free-kick.

Portugal looked dangerous on the break with Rui Fonte and Nelson Oliveira utilising their pace in attack.

Arsenal striker Fonte volleyed Portugal ahead in stoppage time from eight yards after Rosado set up the chance by cutting the ball back from the right end-line.

Chances were scarce for Ireland in the second half as a midfield battle ensued but they came within inches of finding an equaliser with 20 minutes left.

Gavin Gunning rose highest inside the box to meet a corner and his header was touched onto the crossbar by Portugal stopper Anthony Lopes.

Portugal substitute Leo burst through on goal with three minutes left on the clock and Hanley had to stop the shot with his legs.

Ireland had one final chance of securin a draw in the dying moments when substitute Darragh McNamara connected with a cross from the McCrory on the left only for his header to angle over.

Ireland are back in action on Tuesday evening at Leah Park when they take on Ukraine (7.30pm).

This tournament is considered ideal preparation for the UEFA Championship qualifying campaign for all teams competing in the four-nations event.

Qualification for the European Championship finals next July is the ultimate goal for the Irish.

Their competitive campaign kicks-off in Malta on November 21st when they battle it out with France, Liechtenstein and the hosts for the two qualifying places into the next elite round.

In today’s first under 19 international four nations encounter, Spain defeated a hard-working Ukraine side by 3-0 at Lissywoollen Stadium in Athlone. Three second half substitutes each struck late on as they claimed the first win of the Under 19 four nations tournament.

The game started with high intensity as both teams looked to attack early on. The sides went into the break dead-locked but Ukrainian midfielder, Vitsinec Vitaliy, was sent off for a second bookable offence mid-way through the second half. Spain used the extra man to their advantage and they took the lead through substitute, Jaime Romero, after 69 minutes.

Romero almost doubled the scoring after 78 minutes as he rattled the upright from 25 yards out, much to the relief of Vyacheslav in the Ukrainian goal.

Sevilla’s Salvador Gonzalez wrapped up the victory for Spain after 81 minutes and fellow substitute, Jose Ignacio Fernandez, from Real Madrid added to Ukraine’s woes as he slotted in Spain’s third after 88 minutes.

IRELAND: Hanley (Salthill Devon); Oyebanjo (Histon), Morris (Newcastle United), Kelly (Norwich C), Gunning (Blackburn Rovers); Byrne (Hibernian), Henderson (Arsenal), O'Brien (Birmingham City), McCrory (Plymouth); Madden (Bohemians), Daly (Manchester City).

Subs: Clifford (Chelsea) and Collins (Triestina) for O’Brien and Daly (both 58 mins), Devitt (Hull City) for Byrne (64 mins), McNamara (Drogheda United) for Madden (69 mins), Murphy (Ipswich Town) for Henderson (82 mins)

PORTUGAL: Lopes; Pinto, Mendes, Pereira, Rosado; Simao, Martins, Rui, Almedia; Fonte, Oliveira. Subs: Ruca, Dinis, Viana, Leo, Reis, Sana, Wilson.

Referee: D. Tomney (Dublin).

Attendance: 608.

Under-19 four-nations international tournament fixtures

Monday August 18
Spain 3-0 Ukraine - Lissywoollen, Athlone

Republic of Ireland 0-1 Portugal – Flancare Park, Longford
Kick-off: 19.30 hrs

Tuesday August 19
Portugal v Spain – Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore
Kick-off: 15.00 hrs

Republic of Ireland v Ukraine – Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore
Kick-off: 19.30 hrs

Thursday August 21
Ukraine v Portugal – Flancare Park, Longford
Kick-off: 15.00 hrs

Republic of Ireland v Spain – Lissywoollen, Athlone
Kick-off: 19.30 hrs.
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