Thursday February 15th, 2007
Italy 2 – 2 Republic of Ireland
Noelle Murray 10, 65.
The Republic of Ireland women’s under19 team recovered after losing to Italy on Tuesday to draw with the same opposition in Rome on Thursday.
Manager Sue Ronan said the matches were ideal preparation for the UEFA Championship.
The Republic of Ireland Under 19 women's team showed much improved form when they drew with Italy on Thursday in Rome in the second of two friendly matches.
Noelle Murray scored both of Ireland's goals.
Ireland had lost to Italy on Tuesday but manager Susan Ronan said the
players had stepped up considerably on that performance and were unlucky not to win the match.
She said: "We dominated the opening half and were well in control when we went in front after ten minutes.
"On Tuesday some of the players did not show up in a sense but everybody was in tune today and the football was good.
"We changed the formation as well to counter what Italy were doing and we went 3-5-2 and it worked out really well.
"But then we had five minutes of madness just before half-time when we gave away a penalty and they snatched a second goal so we were behind at half-time.
"But the girls refused to let it go and we were the better team again in the second half. An equaliser half-way through set us up and we should have won it really. But overall it was very satisfying and the girls played very well."
Manager Ronan and her squad are preparing for the second, elite qualifying stage of the UEFA Championship in April. Ireland will play France, Portugal and Netherlands so the two matches against Italy were extremely useful.
The matches in Rome were played in a special complex that is the headquarters of Italy's women international teams. The Irish were hugely impressed with the facilities that included top-class playing pitches, indoor gyms, sauna and an on-site hotel.
Republic of Ireland:
Niamh Reid-Burke (St. Mochta's)
Seana Cooke (Raheny United)
Grace Murray (Dundalk United)
Louise Quinn (Peamount)
Meabh De Burca (Salthill Devon)
Lynn-Marie Grant (Lifford)
Christina Byrne (Raheny United)
Noelle Murray (Raheny United)
Aine O'Gorman (Stella Maris)
Diane Caldwell (Raheny United)
Susan Hackett (Stella Maris)
Subs
Leona Archibald (Mullingar United) on for Grace Murray (30 Mins)
Jennifer Critchley (Lifford)on for Diane Caldwell (70 Mins)
Stephanie Roche (Stella Maris) on for Christina Byrne (80 Mins)
Mary Barrett (Douglas Hall) on for Susan Hackett (80 Mins)
Aoife Herbert (Ballina Town) on for Aine O’ Gorman (80 Mins) |
