Croatia 1-2 Rep of Ireland
The Republic of Ireland Under-19s were out of the traps early in today's friendly in Umeg when they defeated hosts Croatia in the second match of this week's double-header.
Two goals by the midway point of the first half sent Paul Doolin's side into a commanding lead and though the hosts reduced the arrears on the hour, resilient defending from the boys in green saw the game out.
Doolin was delighted with the performance from his team, a line-up which showed seven changes to the side which drew the first game between the nations on Tuesday 1-1.
Just ten minutes had gone when Ireland sped into the lead. Anthony Forde picked out Kevin Knight with a pass to the wing and his cross was headed back across goal by John O'Sullivan for Connor Smith to finish.
Ireland goalkeeper Sean McDermott was called upon to preserve the lead six minutes later by denying the Croatian striker after he'd broken clear on goal.
And Wearen followed those heroics up by extending the visitors' lead. Wolves midfielder Forde was once again involved, floating a corner kick into a dangerous area where the West Ham teen arrived on cue to power a header home.
McDermott in the Irish goal produced another stop on the half hour as Croatia sought a reprieve.
Seven minutes in the second half, the Arsenal goalkeeper was helpless when his crossbar was rattled by a thumping header from the Croatian centre-back.
And their resistance was finally broken just past the hour when a corner-kick resulted led to the home side making it 2-1.
On 83 minutes, Ireland could have wrapped it up more securely when substitute Graham Burke got a shot on goal only for his effort to draw a brilliant save from Michael Paradzikvic between the sticks.
REP OF IRELAND U-19: Sean McDermott (Arsenal), Michael Harriman (QPR), Neil Byrne (Nottingham Forest), Sean McGinty (Manchester United), Derrick Williams (Aston Villa); Anthony Forde (Wolves), Shane Byrne (Leicester City), Eoin Wearen (West Ham United), Kevin Knight (Leicester City); Connor Smith (Watford), John O'Sullivan (Blackburn Rovers).
Substitutions: Joe Shaughnessy (Aberdeen) for Williams, Graham Burke (Aston Villa) for Smith (both h/t), Samir Carruthers (Aston Villa) for Knight (52 mins), Conor Murphy (Shamrock Rovers) for O'Sullivan (66 mins), Kane Ferdinand (Southend United) for Byrne (75 mins), Sean Murray (Watford) for Forde (83 mins |
