Under-18 Friendly International
Macedonia U18 1-2 Republic of Ireland U18
Mistovski (pen) 30 Craig Walsh 5
Jeff Hendrick 71
The Republic of Ireland Under-18s bounced back from Tuesdays narrow defeat to Macedonia to win the second installment of this weeks double-header in Ohrid City on Thursday.
Two second-half substitutes, Stephen Folan and Jeff Hendrick, combined to produce the winning goal on 71 minutes when Folans inviting cross was nodded to the net by Derby County midfielder Hendrick.
The goal was a fitting finale to a solid Irish performance. Manager Sean McCaffrey gave starts to all eight substitutes from Tuesdays 1-0 loss and they started the game at high tempo, grabbing the lead on five minutes.
As Macedonia attempted to clear from a corner, the loose ball made its way to Craig Walsh who unleashed an unstoppable 30-yard volley which flew high into the top corner.
Ireland continued to string together passing movements and looked comfortable until they conceded a penalty on the half hour mark.
Full-back Danny Joyce was adjudged to have clipped the home sides winger as he surged into the box and after the Referee booked the offending player, Macedonia captain Mistovski stepped up to take the spot-kick.
Goalkeeper Robert Egan from Kilmallock FC, making his first international start in goal, came desperately close to stopping the effort by diving the right way but there was too much power on the kick.
Egan was busy again two minutes short of the break when Nurlsi skipped past him and looked certain to score only for Joe O Shaughnessy to scamper back and snuff out the danger with a last-ditch tackle.
McCaffrey brought on Paudie Quinn, Conor Murphy and Michael Harriman at half-time before Daryl Horgan and Jeff Hendrick were introduced just past the hour mark.
Murphy was a livewire in attack and tried to pick up strike partner Michael Rafter unmarked in the middle with a cross on 66 minutes but the Colchester United man was fractionally late in getting to the delivery.
Stephen Folan made his entrance from the bench three minutes later, with McCaffrey thrusting the Galwayman into a strikers role.
Although he slotted in at centre-back on Tuesday, Folan showed the agility of a frontman on 71 minutes when he turned his marker on the flank and fed Hendrick a cross that he headed the winner from.
Macedonia did have one opportunity to find a second equaliser on 77 minutes but the brave Egan advanced from his goal-line rapidly to foil Nufi.
Ireland manager Sean McCaffrey said: "I was more pleased with todays display than Tuesdays. We did not pass the ball well in the first game whereas there was much improvement in that area today.
"Macedonia were a decent side, physically strong and technically good, but we outplayed them for large parts and probably should have won by more."
He added: "These two games were a valuable exercise. We are looking towards next Octobers Under-19 UEFA qualifiers and a good performance like this, together with the win, gives the lads that bit of confidence."
Republic of Ireland: Egan (Kilmallock); Joyce (Reading), Ferdinand (Southend United), O`Shaughnessy (Aberdeen). Fitzsimons (Milwall); Stewart (Belvedere), McDonnell (Dundalk), Walsh (Shamrock Rovers), Murray (Sheffield United); Keegan (unattached), Rafter (Colchester United).
Substitutions: Murphy (Shamrock Rovers) for Murray, Quinn (Fulham) for Keegan, Harriman (QPR) for Joyce (all h/t), Horgan (Salthill Devon) for Stewart (61 mins), Hendrick (Derby County) for Walsh (65 mins), Folan (Newcastle United) for Rafter (69 mins), O Connor (Blackburn) for McDonnell (80 mins). |
