UEFA Women’s Under 19 Championship – 1st Phase Qualifying
Republic of Ireland 3-2 Switzerland
The Republic of Ireland Women’s Under 19 side advance to the UEFA Championship, Elite Qualifying Phase as group winners following a magnificent 3-2 victory over a strong Switzerland side in Slovakia this afternoon to leave Susan Ronan's side claiming the maximum, nine points from three games.
Goals from Irish captain, Louise Quinn and Aine O’ Gorman in the first half had the Irish cruising to victory until a brave fight-back from Switzerland with goals from Romona Birrfelder and Caroline Mueller brought the game level. Raheny United striker, Noelle Murray scored the winning goal from the penalty spot after Kara Mullins was fouled in the box.
With both teams already qualified for the next round of the competition, today’s game was to decide who would advance to the next phase as winners of group 8. Susan Ronan’s side started very brightly and were unlucky not to score as early as the fifth minute, defender, Grace Murray delivered a free kick into the box which caused hesitancy in the Swiss defence, the loose ball fell to Louise Quinn who’s snapshot was saved by Jennifer Oehir in goal.
It was the same combination of Grace Murray and Louise Quinn minutes later as the Irish scored the opening goal, Murray’s in-swinging corner from the right was met by the head of Quinn. The Irish captain rose unchallenged and nodded it past the keeper.
Irish keeper, Lynn Dowling was in inspirational form and was heavily involved throughout the game, after 22 minutes, the ever-threatening Caroline Mueller beat the Irish off-side trap to leave her with just Dowling to beat, the Irish net-minder stood tall and cleared the ball to safety. From the resulting play, Romona Birrfelder played a neat one-two with Mueller who unleashed a powerful shot toward the top corner of the net but Dowling somehow managed to get a strong hand to the ball to tip it over the bar.
The Irish doubled their advantage after 34 minutes, Dundalk’s Gillian McDonnell took control of a high looping pass into the area, McDonnell held the ball up very well and hooked a cross to the far post as Stella Maris’s Aine O’Gorman was there to nod past the Swiss keeper.
The Swiss emerged after half-time intent on pegging back Ireland’s lead, on 51 minutes, a high hopeful ball into the Irish box was not cleared and Swiss midfielder Romona Birrfelder made no mistake from close range as she hammered the ball into the roof of the net.
Switzerland were level with 20 minutes remaining, Caroline Mueller was on hand to strike the ball past Dowling in the Irish goal from a right-wing cross. With the game now hanging in the balance, Switzerland needed victory to claim top spot in the group because of Ireland’s superior goal difference. A long ball to substitute, Kara Mullins was brought under control in the Swiss box, as she held up the play awaiting support from her team mates; she was impetuously knocked to the ground with a thumping tackle leaving the referee no choice but to give a penalty.
Noelle Murray stepped up and showed no sign of nerves as she calmly slotted past Jennifer Oehir to put the game out of sight for the Swiss to the delight of the sizeable Irish support at the Nove Mesto nad Vahom Stadium.
Irish manager, Susan Ronan was very pleased with her side’s performance, “For the third year in a row, we have finished top of the group in the first qualifying phase, there is still a chance we could be awarded a top seed place in the next round which would be a massive bonus for us.”
“Honestly, I think we should have won more comfortably today, we gave away a two goal lead to a team who pumped high balls to their two large strikers with the Swiss midfielders living off scraps, when we broke up the field and were awarded the penalty, I thought it was just rewards for all of the effort our girls put in today,” said Ronan.
Ronan concluded, “It has been a long week for some of the girls, hopefully in the qualifying draw we will avoid one of the big nations like Germany as it will give us a real chance to progress to the finals in France next summer.”
Results
Thursday, September 27th 2007
Republic of Ireland 5-1 Croatia
Switzerland 3-0 Slovakia
Saturday, September 29th 2007
Slovakia 0-5 Republic of Ireland
Switzerland 6-2 Croatia
Tuesday, October 2nd 2007
Republic of Ireland 3-2 Switzerland
Croatia 1-2 Slovakia
Republic of Ireland
Lynn Dowling (Bradley) - Raheny United
Karen Duggan – Piltown
Catriona McGilp - Cabinteely FC
Louise Quinn - Peamount
Grace Murray - Dundalk City WFC
Lynn-Marie Grant - Lifford
Gillian McDonnell - Dundalk City WFC
Julienne Russell - Salthill Devon
Áine O’Gorman - Stella Maris
Noelle Murray - Raheny United
Stephanie Roche - Dundalk City
Subs
Jennifer Critchley – Lifford
Niamh Reid-Burke - Raheny United
Amanda Parkes - Wilton United on for Quinn, 69 Mins
Christina Byrne - Raheny United
Kara Mullins – Galway Bohs on for Roche, 45 Mins
Patrice Kearney – Wilton United
Susan Hackett - Stella Maris on for Duggan, 61 Mins |
