Under-18 team Limoges friendly tournament, France
Republic of Ireland 1-2 Denmark.
Robert Kiernan 19
The Republic of Ireland Under-18 side failed to build on their early lead against Denmark at the Limoges friendly tournament in France on Saturday as they eventually fell to a 2-1 defeat.
Ireland began brightly, with strikers Ronan Murray and Joe Mason combining well to free the latter into space in front of goal but the Denmark goalkeeper advanced swiftly to clear the danger.
Sean McCaffrey’s Irish side made the pressure tell on 19 minutes when the opening goal arrived. Mason released Murray with a clever pass and Murray’s cut-back was met by Robert Kiernan who powered his shot beyond the goalkeeper, helped by a deflection.
Denmark signalled their threat going forward when Larsen rampaged away from his marker in midfield and fired just over with a wicked shot on the half hour mark.
Five minutes before the break, the sides were level. Corlu mustered the opening for Denmark and his neat cross was tapped into the net by Kadrii.
Ireland were presented with the chance to retake the lead on the stroke of half-time. A hand-ball offence in the box was spotted by the referee but John Sullivan’s penalty kick into the bottom left corner was well saved.
A replica move to their equaliser resulted in Denmark going ahead after 72 minutes. Kadrii was the creator in this occasion, squaring the ball across the goalmouth for Lindsten to covert with ease.
Shaun Timmons went agonisingly close to snatching a draw for Ireland in stoppage time but his header from John Dunleavy’s cross rebounded off the crossbar.
Republic of Ireland: Harry Lee (Charlton Athletic); Padraic Ormsby (Bohemians), Mark Connolly (Wolves), Kallum Keane (Derby County), Robert Kiernan (Watford); Graham Kelly (Derby County), John Sullivan (Bohemians), Jason Hughes (Limerick 37), Shaun Timmins (Birmingham City); Ronan Murray (Ipswich Town), Joe Mason (Plymouth Argyle)
Subs: Ger Hanley (Galway Utd) for Lee (HT), Johnny Dunleavy (Woves) for Kiernan and Orrin Farrell (Kildare County) for Kellty (both 57 mins), Callum O’Shea (Charlton Ath) for Murray (74 mins), Chris Kerr (Drogheda Utd) for Hughes (86 mins) |
