Italy 0-2 Republic of Ireland
The Republic of Ireland Under 19 team scored a remarkable 2-0 victory over Italy in the second of two friendlies against Italy in Bisceglie, Bari on Thursday afternoon.
Sean McCaffreys team built on their 0—0 result on Tuesday to outplay and outscore their more experienced rivals.
After a scoreless first half the game was finally turned Ireland’s way in a six minute spell early in the second half. First Diarmuid O’Carroll (Celtic) netted in the 53rd minute and just short of the hour Billy Clarke (Ipswich Town) added a second.
Indeed the Irish could have made it 3—0 three minutes from time when substitute Shane Long of Cork City had a diving header come off a post.
McCaffrey gave all his players a run out in this game. Speaking after the game the Irish Manager paid tribute to his players and said, “This was a great result considering we lost ten players from the original squad. To draw with Italy was great but to beat them 2-0 is simply superb.”
Republic of Ireland: Darren Randolph (Charlton Athletic), Gary Dicker (UCD), James Hand (Huddersfield), David Elebert (Preston), Richard Keogh (Stoke City), Darren O’Dea (Celtic), Ian Morris (Leeds Utd), Michael Collins (C) (Huddersfield), Billy Clarke (Ipswich Town), Diarmuid O’Carroll (Celtic), Jonathan Hayes (Reading).
Substitutes: Darren Quigley (UCD), Travis Binnion (Sheffield Utd), Steven Foley (Aston Villa), Darron Gibson (Manchester Utd), Half time for Randolph, Dicker, Morris and Collins; John Paul Kelly (Unattached), for Hand (58 mins), Shane Long (Cork City) for Hayes (70 mins). |
