Lithuania 0 Republic of Ireland 2 David Heagney 40 Greg Cunningham 75
The Republic of Ireland Under-17 are through to the final of the Lithuania Invitational tournament courtesy of a 2-0 win over the hosts. Ireland advance to the finale of the seven-nation tournament on Thursday where they meet Russia.
The Irish team displayed six changes to the team which defeated Belarus 2-0 in Sunday’s opening fixture.
One of those newcomers, David Heagney, gave Ireland the lead in first-half stoppage time when the Huddersfield Town striker blasted the ball home.
Heagney delivered his first-ever goal for Ireland when he met a cross from Conor Hourihane at the back post and buried the ball past the goalkeeper.
Greg Cunningham was introduced in the second half for his first sample of the tournament and netted Ireland’s second with a well-placed finish five minutes from full-time.
Hourihane was involved in the build-up for the goal again, freeing substitute Karl Sheppard with a pass who in turn set up Greg Cunningham to shoot home from close-range.
All 18 players in the Irish panel have figured at some stage over the two games so far.
Ireland started off the game where they left off from Sunday’s 2-0 win over Belarus with midfield duo Gearoid Morrissey and Conor Hourihane dictating the pace of the play.
Hourihane was at the centre of everything in the opening half and was unlucky to see his free-kick from the edge of the penalty area hit the Lithuanian wall in the 18th minute. Paul Murphy had another free-kick chance on the half hour mark but his effort was saved.
Just as Ireland edged ahead on the stroke of half-time, they were dealt a blow when Morrissey was forced off at the interval because of a hip injury.
They kept driving forward in the second half and galvanised by the freshness of their substitutes, Ireland made sure of the points with a second goal as the game drew to a close.
Hourihane was almost rewarded for another inspirational performance with a goal but his first shot was saved after 55 minutes before a second attempt angled wide eight minutes from the end.
Russia qualified for the final by winning the other group and all the Irish squad are excited about the prospect of featuring in a final at this early stage of the season.
The Irish squad achieved their aim of keeping intact a winning streak ahead of the first phase of UEFA qualifiers against Ukraine, Denmark and Slovakia which Ireland are due to stage from September 14th - 19th.
Republic of Ireland Under-17: Gerard Hanley - Salthill Devon Pauric Ormsby - St. Kevin’s Boys John Dunleavy - Wolverhampton Wanderers Mark Connolly - Wolverhampton Wanderers Paul Corry - Belvedere Gearoid Morrissey - Ringmahon Rangers Conor Hourihane - Sunderland John Smyth - Muirhevnamor Daryn Hennessy - Chelsea Paul Murphy - Ipswich Town David Heagney - Huddersfield Town Substitutions: Conor Clifford - Chelsea for Hennessy (29 mins) Darragh Satelle - Crumlin United for Morrissey (41 mins) Gregory Cunningham - Manchester City for Corry (50 mins) Karl Sheppard - Everton for Heagney (57 mins) Mark Power - Aston Villa for Smyth (62 mins) Kallum Keane - Derby County for Satelle (65 mins)
Ireland’s results and fixtures in Lithuania are as follows:
Sunday 19th August Republic of Ireland 2 - 0 Belarus – 4pm, Irish time Tuesday, 21st August Lithuania 0 -2 Republic of Ireland – 4pm, Irish time Thursday, 23rd August Final. |