Under 17s make light work of Slovenia
The Republic of Ireland Under 17s enjoyed a comfortable 4-1 victory over Slovenia at Home Farm on Tuesday night in the latest UEFA Championship qualification warm-up game.
Three goals in five first half minutes made it plain sailing for Ireland who rarely looked troubled by a Slovenia side.
Ireland were on top from the opening minutes and could have opened the scoring early on as Stephen Gleeson twice and Keith Treacy went close to grabbing an opening goal.
But Ireland deservedly got their reward in the 12th minute when Treacy’s left wing corner was headed home from six yards by Robert Bayly.
A second arrived four minutes later when a wonderful ball down the touchline by John Quigley released Alan Judge on the left wing. The striker wasted no time in heading for goal and his shot proved too powerful for Slovenian goalkeeper Marko Polegek at his near post.
One minute later, it was 3-0 when winger Gary Dunphy scored the goal of the game with a well placed volley from the edge of the area that crashed off the crossbar and into the net.
Ireland never dropped the pressure with Treacy going close on a number of occasions though Slovenia also caused some problems with striker Tim Matavz having a header cleared off the line by Simon Madden though the striker did get on the score sheet in the 40th minute after a mistake by Eddie Nolan put him through on goal.
However, Ireland finished the half the stronger when Judge grabbed his second of the game with a powerful shot from 18 yards.
Three half time substitutions did not affect Ireland’s play with Treacy forcing a fine finger tip save out of Pasagic in the opening minutes of the second half though despite nearly all the possession, Ireland were unable to add a fifth goal.
Ireland face Slovenia once again on Thursday at Home Farm (Kick off 7:30).
Teams:
Republic of Ireland: Boyle (Aston Villa); Madden (Leeds United), Power (Crumlin United), Nolan (Blackburn Rovers), Quigley (Stoke City); Dunphy (Celtic), Bayly (Leeds United), Gleeson (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Ryan (Liverpool); Judge (St Joseph’s), Treacy (Blackburn Rovers).
Subs: Connellan (Belvedere), Davies (Reading) and Fitzgerald (Shelbourne) for Quigley, Madden and Dunphy (all half time), Kiely (Aberdeen) for Treacy (65 mins), Hickey (Crystal Palace) for Gleeson (70 mins), Prunty (Home Farm) for Boyle (75 mins).
Slovenia: Pasagic; Ugrin, Gregoric, Celcer, Mocic, Stojanovic, Matavz, Morsi, Janev, Petkovic, Bric.
Subs: Zec, Bezjak, Sotensek and Lovric for Janev, Petkovic, Bric and Ugrin (all half time), Sviben and Krljanovic for Morsi and Stojanovic (78 mins)
Referee: P Tuite (Dublin). |
