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19.10.2011 at 11:00 Tsentralniy - Almaty
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Attendance: |
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Liechtenstein |
0 - 8
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Rep of Ireland |
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Referee: Sergejus Slyva (LTU) |
European Qualifier-match |
UEFA U-17 Championship first phase qualifier
REP OF IRELAND 8-0 LIECHTENSTEIN,
The Republic of Ireland Under-17s got the start they wanted to their European Championship qualifying campaign today by hitting eight goals without reply against Liechtenstein.
Once Ireland got the breakthrough on eleven minutes through defender Ryan O Reilly, they remained totally in command and striker Sam Byrne ended the tie with a hat-trick.
The result puts a vital three points on the board in Irelands pursuit to claim one of the two available places from the group into the UEFA elite qualification stage. Mini-group hosts Kazakhstan pushed top seeds Czech Republic all the way in the other group match played only to suffer a two-nil reverse.
Liechtenstein s goalkeeper Claudio Majer was kept busy from the 4th minute when he stopped a free-kick effort from Gary O Neill.
Sean Coyne worked the keeper again six minutes later but within a minute of that chance Ireland steamed ahead.
A corner from O Neill was read by to perfection by centre-back Ryan O Reilly who smashed his header off the underside of the crossbar and over the goal-line.
Ireland s first half dominance yielded four more goals in the lead-up to the break. Wolves attacker O Neill made no mistake on 21 minutes when put clear on goal while striker Byrne, of Manchester United, headed home a Jack Grealish cross another seven minutes.
Jonathan Leddy was clinical from the penalty spot on 32 minutes when Grealish won the spot-kick and Kyle McFadden headed in the firth four minutes after.
Four minutes after the break, Aston Villa winger Grealish grabbed a deserved goal by nodding home O Neills delivery.
Ireland continued to produced openings and Byrne rattled the net with a penalty on the hour following a trip on O Neill inside the area.
Seven became eight in stoppage time as Byrne notched his third from close-range to complete the scoring.
"It was a professional performance from the lads and the bright opening was crucial," said Ireland Head Coach John Morling afterwards.
"We were comfortable throughout because the lads kept the ball well and took their chances when they came."
Up next for Ireland is a meeting on Friday with host nation Kazakhstan, an assignment expected to provide an altogether sterner challenge. Ireland face Czech Republic in their final game of the first phase qualifiers on Tuesday.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: S. Fagan (Coventry City); C. Whittle (De La Salle), K. McFadden (Norwich City), R. O Reilly (Stoke City), S. Coyne (Cherry Orchard); D. Hayes (Derby County), J. Leddy (Ipswich Town), G. O Neill (Wolves); D. McGlade (Middlesbrough), S. Byrne (Manchester United), J. Grealish (Aston Villa),
Subs: D. O Reilly (Fulham) for Coyne (h/t), Conor Wilkinson (Millwall) for Grealish (58 mins), Kevin O Connor (St. Patrick s Athletic) for Leddy (69 mins) |
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