REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 1 ASPIRE ACADEMY (QATAR) 3
The Republic of Ireland Under-15s were unable to build upon an early lead as they slipped to defeat against the Aspire Academy on Wednesday in the second match of their double-header in Qatar.
Following the scoreless draw against Aspire's Under-16 team played on Monday, Ireland manager John Morling opted to give all his seven substitutes starting places.
The Irish settled quickly and Anthony McAlavey was on the end of the first chance with a shot on ten minutes which struck the inside of the post.
Ireland's pressure paid dividends when they took the lead through Sam Byrne on 15 minutes. A neat passing movement involving McAlavey, Glody Nsay and Dylan Hayes resulted in Byrne receiving the ball with his back to goal on the edge of the penalty area and the St. Joseph's Boys striker swivelled before rifling a shot low into the corner of the net.
Byrne missed another decent chance to extend the lead but Ireland were caught off-guard after 25 minutes when Sultan seized upon a defensive mix-up to nip in and head the equaliser from close range.
The game continued to be evenly poised after the break with both teams enjoying spells of possession and it was the home side that grabbed the vital next goal as Ayoub was left free to convert 15 minutes into the second half. Sultan made it 3-1 ten minutes later.
Ireland manager John Morling, while disappointed with the result, believes the set of games served its purpose.
He said: "Over the course of the two matches, all 18 players got to start at least one. Our performance level was not as good in the second match as it was in Monday's game, mainly down to the passing being less fluid.
"That said, the trip to Qatar has been a great success. These were the first games of the campaign for the group and the objective was of assess how these 18 players would cope in this environment both on and off the pitch.
"This is only the first part of selection process which will continue throughout the season."
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND U-15: Conor Forde (Monaghan United); Sean Long (Cherry Orchard), Ryan O'Reilly (Ballyjamesduff), David Tobin (Clontarf FC), Sean Coyne (Cherry Orchard); Glody Nsay (Cherry Orchard), Adam Wixted (Stella Maris), Darren Murphy (Rockmount), Dylan Hayes (St. Joseph's Boys); Sam Byrne (St. Joseph's Boys), Anthony McAlavey (Mayfield)
Substitutions: Sam O'Connor (Malahide United) for Murphy and Gary O'Neill (Kingdom Boys) for Wixted (both 65), Conor McDonald (St. Kevin's Boys) and Nsay and Jonathon Leddy (Cavan Shamrocks) for McAlavey (both 72)
Results:
Monday December 14
Republic of Ireland U-15 0-0 Aspire Academy U-16
Khalifa Stadium
Wednesday December 16
Republic of Ireland U-15 1-3 Aspire Academy U-15
Khalifa Stadium. |
