The Republic of Ireland U19 side recorded their second victory over the Czech Republic in three days after another impressive display in Waterford’s RSC.
4th Sep 2017
Tom Mohan’s side grabbed an 85th minute winner through a Jordan Doherty header after leading at the break thanks to an Anthony Scully penalty. Scully also had an early spot-kick saved by the keeper.
Ireland are preparing for October's UEFA U19 Championships Qualifying Round games which will see the same venue host the Irish, Azerbaijan, Cyprus and Serbia.
The Irish were awarded a penalty in the seventh minute when Canice Carroll was taken down in the area by Michael Honig but Scully’s low shot from the spot was saved by keeper Denis Groger.
Mohan’s charges were undeterred by that missed opportunity and created a number of chances before Scully won a second penalty after being taken down by Lukas Neuer when he broke onto a through ball by Ryan Graydon. West Ham midfielder Scully showed character to step up and steer home the spot-kick.
After the break the Czechs looked to force their way back into the game and they levelled midway through the second half when Vaclav Drchal headed home from a well delivered free-kick.
The Irish ended on a high when a flowing move saw Dan McKenna combine with Scully and Jonathan Afolabi to create a chance for McKenna who saw his effort hit an upright but Rian O’Sullivan was in the right place to get on the loose ball and his cross was powered home by Doherty.
“It was very good today. We played really well in the first half and we were delighted with the performance,” said Irish assistant coach Mick Neville.
“We also missed a couple of chances in the first half. The Czechs didn’t create much in the first half but after the break they got at us and got a deserved equaliser with a very good goal. It was great to see the lads bounce back from that and carve out the win.
“We were delighted with both displays this week. A lot of players did really well and they’ve put pressure on everybody now so the hard part will be to pick a squad for the qualifiers.
“One negative was that Callum Cockerill-Mollett was stretchered off with a bang on the knee in the first half and he was taken to hospital as a precaution but but we believe that it may not be as bad as it first looked.”
Republic of Ireland: Brian Maher, Lee O’Connor (Dan McKenna 46), Canice Carroll, Warren O’Hora, Callum Cockerill-Mollett (Rian O’Sullivan 33), Jordan Doherty, Aaron Bolger, Anthony Scully, John Martin (Tyreke Wilson 74), Ryan Graydon (Kian Flanagan 63), Jonathan Afolabi.
Fixtures
Under 19 International Friendly
Saturday, September 2
Republic of Ireland 2-1 Czech Republic, RSC
Monday, September 4
Republic of Ireland 2-1 Czech Republic, RSC |
