Republic of Ireland 3 Aspire Academy 3
The Republic of Ireland U15s came from three goals down in the second half to earn a well-deserved draw with the Aspire Academy in Doha.
Both sides traded early opportunities with Irelands Mark Buckley narrowly shooting wide from an acute angle having rounded the Aspire goalkeeper 11 minutes in. Aspire then struck the Irish crossbar in the 16th minute following a scramble in the box after an Aspire corner kick.
Despite good Irish possession it was Aspire that broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute when their attacker struck low into the Irish net having got behind the Irish defence. Aspire then doubled their lead before half-time when they again finished well in the 35th minute after the Irish defence failed to clear from an Aspire attack.
Upon the restart Aspire made it 3-0 in the 54th minute when a great delivery from a corner kick managed to find its way into the back of the net at the far post.
Ireland began their comeback in the 58th minute when Conor Levingston slotted home a crisp left footed shot low into the corner of the Aspire net having been fed the ball by substitute Jean Yves Poame.
The gap was then narrowed to just one goal when substitute Conor Davis tucked home at the back post after the Aspire goalkeeper could only parry Steven Kinsellas close range effort, after the winger had jinked his way through the Aspire defence.
Ireland then dominated the closing 15 minutes forcing several good saves from the Aspire goalkeeper, and their effort was eventually rewarded into injury time when Davis struck for his second goal of the game after Sean Whelan had delivered a low cross into the box from the left wing which the Aspire goalkeeper could only tip into the path of Davis who made no mistake in finishing and sealing a well earned draw.
“It has been an excellent couple of days for these young lads as they start their international careers,” said Ireland coach Niall Harrison.
“Most of these lads are just 14 going on 15 so it is a step up for them and they have acquitted themselves very well.
“Going 3-0 was not the start we would have wanted and the goals were sloppy. We were caught on the counter attack twice and let another goal in direct from a corner but I had been very happy about how we were playing at that point.
“I always felt we would get something out of the game and we made it very hard for ourselves but we created a host of chances. Their keeper was in inspired form and ended being named player of the tournament, which was no surprise on the back of this performance.
“But the pleasing thing was that we did not give up. We kept creating chances and when we started taking them the game changed and we could have won it comfortably at the end.”
The Irish under-15 coaching staff will now look at other candidates for this age group at the end of this month and will have friendlies in March and April to help continue the development of this group.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Ross Treacy; Stephen Nolan, Sean Whelan, Conor Masterson, Robbie McCourt (C), Brandon Payne, Steven Kinsella, Daniel Mandroiu, Mark Buckley, Conor Levingston, Avis Ganiyu.
Subs: Zachary Elbouzedi for Ganiyu 45 mins; Jean Yves Poame for Mandroiu 45; Conor Davis for Buckley 52; Gareth Doherty for Nolan 52; Corey Chambers for Treacy 62; Jesse Stafford Lacey for Levingston 58. Unavailablethrough injury: Jake Doyle Hayes |
