Wales 1-1 Republic of Ireland
Wales got off to a solid start and Lloyd Hughes had the game’s first opportunity in the sixth minute when steered the ball wide after a home corner kick.
Ireland had a big chance to open the scoring in the 17th minute when Adam Horgan sent JJ Fitzpatrick through and his lobbed effort beat Wales goalkeeper Andrew Wycherley but dropped narrowly wide.
Wales took the lead in the 28th minute when Christopher Whittaker’s header was tipped onto an upright by Irish keeper Lee McCarron but the ball came back and was knocked home by James Jones.
The second half saw the Irish up the ante and a spell of concentrated pressure eventually saw Dean Casey curl in a free-kick from the left and Shane Hulgraine slipped between the home defence to flick a header cleverly home for a 62nd minute equaliser.
Both sides had a couple of half-chances to snatch a winning goal but ultimately a draw was a fair result for an evenly contested encounter.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Lee McCarron, Eli Kadi-Harrington, Colin McPartlin, Finnian O Laoi, Dean Casey, Adam Horgan, Adam Prendergast, Daire O Baoill, Joseph Fitzpatrick, Evan Deacy, Shane Hulgraine.
Subs: Brian Foley for O Laoi 46 mins; Jason Hunt for Deacy 46; Adrian Delap for Fitzpatrick 65; Paul McMahon for Prendergast 65; Yousef Mahdy for Hulgraine 76.
RESULTS
Monday, February 23
U18 International Friendly
Wales 0-1 Republic of Ireland U18 Home-based, New Bridge Meadow Stadium, Haverfordwest
Tuesday, February 24
U18 International Friendly
Wales 1-1 Republic of Ireland U18 Home-based, Genquip Stadium, Port Talbot |
