Republic of Ireland 1-0 Netherlands
Irish manager, Susan Ronan was looking for an improved performance from Monday’s narrow victory over Portugal where Stella Maris midfielder, Aine O’ Gorman scored the winning goal well into injury time in the first half.
With both teams eager for a victory today, for large periods of the first half both sides played very tentatively and were unable to provide any clear-cut chances. Irish goalkeeper, Lyn Dowling was excellent in the Irish goal, making two spectacular saves from long range shots.
At the half time break, Ronan introduced Hofstra’s Diane Caldwell who has featured prominently in the Irish senior team over the past number of years.
The Netherlands had the ball in the net mid-way through the second half; the referee however awarded a free-kick to the Irish for the use of an elbow by a Dutch attacker.
Caldwell put the Irish in the lead after 74 minutes when she ran onto an out-swinging freekick at the edge of the Dutch box; her glancing header hit the underside of the post and bounced into the back of the net.
The Irish withstood some fierce pressure as the Netherlands pressed for an equaliser but the Irish defence stood firm as Dowling was not troubled by any meaningful shots on the Irish goal.
Republic of Ireland manager, Sue Ronan was delighted with her team's performance today, “After a fairly disappointing opening game against Portugal, today’s game was exactly the performance I was expecting from this team.
"To battle against a quality Dutch side and effectively knock them out of the tournament is an amazing achievement for this team. This is the very first time we have won two games in the elite qualifying phase.”
“We play France on Saturday to decide the winner of Group 2. We are well aware of the top quality of the opposition and I hope that we perform to the very best of our ability and hopefully press for a place in the finals in Iceland in the summer,” she added.
In today’s other UEFA Women’s Under 19 Championship, Elite Phase– Group 2 game, France defeated Portugal 5-0 to top the group on goal difference.
Only one team will qualify for the finals automatically with one best runners-up place in the Elite Phase also qualifying for the finals.
Republic of Ireland
Lyn Dowling – Bradley - Raheny United
Elaine Murray - Raheny United
Grace Murray - Dundalk City WFC
Louise Quinn - Peamount United
Susan Hackett - Stella Marris
Meabh De Burca - Salthill Devon
Áine O’Gorman - Stella Marris
Seana Cooke - Arsenal FC
Noelle Murray - Raheny United
Jennifer Critchley - Lifford
Christina Byrne - Raheny United
Subs
Leona Archibald - Mullingar Athletic FC on for Hackett, 88 Mins
Mary Barrett - Douglas Hall
Niamh Reid-Burke - St.Mochtas
Aoife Herbert - Ballina Town on for Critchley, 82 Mins
Niamh Mulcahy - Aisling Anacotty FC
Stephanie Roche - Stella Marris
Diane Caldwell - Hofstra University on for Quinn, 45 Mins
Saturday 14th April:
REP. OF IRELAND V FRANCE
(Stade Omnisports) – 3pm, Irish time. |
