The Republic of Ireland came within 9 minutes of getting a dream result when making their debut in the European Youths Championship finals in Finland last night but surrendered a goal which left the squad sickened.
The West Germans are not only holders of the title but are odds-on favourites to retain it this year. That is why the locals in the 2,000 strong crowd paid much admiration for the way the Irish played.
The general neutral feeling was that the Irish deserved at least a draw.
Now the Irish have to pick themselves up and and take on the Soviet Union to morrow afternoon in their second match.
The Russians opened their account yesterday by beating the Other Country in the group Austria who Ireland meet next Tuesday.
Manager Liam Tuohy was frustrated at the way the Germans scored the winning goal and admiration for the way the players performed for him. Said Tuohy "It was a wonderful game of football and it was obvious that if it was going to be decided then just one goal would do it. A draw was on for us and the sort of result that would have thrilled us until the late winner. It was the result of one of those sickening incidents that happen in football".
The ball had been cleared by the Irish defence when suddenly the Albanian referee was pointing to the penalty spot.
His action was hotly disputed by the Irish.
With an action he indicated the foul was for an Irish player raising his foot too high but failed to point out the culprit.
And just as suddenly he awarded the German's and indirect free and during the confusion of it all, Hass swept the ball into the net past goalkeeper David Edmonds of Stella Maris
Edmonds could consider himself a lucky lad when the Germans twice struck his woodwork, but in a fine Irish performance in which skipper Paul Gorman and the Wolves pair of Graham Quinn and John Pender were outstanding two players had chances to score the goal the Irish so richly deserved.
With the Irish on top in the second half John Reynor of Bohemians had the chance of the match when he met across from Brian Long but he could not connect properly in front of goal and shot wide.
Mick Mc Cabe the Spurs youngster also swept in on a cross but hit the goalkeeper with his shot.
Republic of Ireland : Edmonds (Stella Maris), Long (Galway), Quinn (Wolves),Pender(Wolves), Fleet (Brighton), Gorman (Arsenal), Reynor (Bohemians),Sheridan (Leeds) Kiernan (Wolves) McCabe (Spurs), O'Carroll (St Malachy's)
Substitutes: De Mange (Home Farm)for Sheridan, O'Regan (Tramore) for O'Carroll second half |
