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19.08.1998 at 00:00 Dalymount Park
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Attendance: |
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Rep of Ireland Under 19 |
2 - 0
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Denmark
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Kerr's U19s take their chances to conquer Denmark in the rain
Republic of Ireland 2
Denmark 0
Brian Kerr's U19s began their preparations for next April's World Youth Cup finals in Nigeria with an encouraging win over Denmark in a friendly played at rain-soaked Dalymount Park last night.
The long range shooting of their right-sided midfielder Anders Hansen was the chief Danish threat to an understrength Ireland, missing nine of the squad from Cyprus particularly in an evenly-contested first half.
As early as the fifth minute Hansen's free kick had to be scrambled clear for a corner by Damien Lynch while on 24 minutes one of his own players got in the way to deflect his 25-yard drive just over the Irish crossbar.
In between, Ireland came close when skipper Barry Quinn was just wide with a curling shot after good work by newcomer Niall Byrne and Richard Sadlier before the latter put them in front on 15 minutes.
Ronnie O'Brien's inswinging free kick from the left was helped on by Gary Doherty for Sadlier, unmarked at the back post to head past Christian Kemph in the Denmark goal.
Half-time substitute Barry Ferguson added the second Irish goal, his first for his country, seven minutes into the second half when he was left unmarked to side-foot home from Keith Doyle's corner.
Ger Crossley was then unlucky not to add to Ireland's winning margin on 73 minutes when shooting into the side netting after Alan Quinn played him through down the left hand side.
Denmark seemed to tire on the heavy pitch as the match wore on and they offered precious little in front of goal in the second half until the final minute when they almost snatched a goal back.
A corner was whipped over from the right by Shamir Haiba and Newros Dogan's header was well held by James Gallagher who had replaced Dean Delaney in the Irish goal at half time.
"It was a useful exercise," said Irish manager Brian Kerr afterwards.
"I learnt that we have a decent pool of players and I was delighted with the performance of Damien Lynch in the centre of our defence.
"We were very solid, particularly in midfield where the experience of Barry Quinn, Alan Quinn and Ger Crossley was the key. We also took our two goals very well."
It was a particularly happy return to the Irish set up for Millwall's Sadlier who scored Ireland's first goal.
The striker was plagued by injury last season which meant that he missed the glory trip to Cyprus in July when Kerr's side lifted the U18 Championship. It was particularly pleasing for Kerr as he was missing nine of the squad from Cyprus due to injury and under-20 duty tonight in Yugoslavia.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Delaney (Everton), Heary (Huddersfield Town), Lynch (Leeds United), Doherty (Luton Town), Doyle (St. Patrick's Athletic); O'Brien (Middlesbrough), Crossley (Celtic), B. Quinn (Coventry), A. Quinn (Sheffield Wednesday); Byrne (Liverpool), Sadlier (Millwall).
Subs: Gallagher (Celtic) and Ferguson (Coventry) for Delaney and Doherty (both at half time), Breslan (Exeter City) and Freeman (Nottingham Forest) for O'Brien and Byrne (both 60 mins), O'Callaghan (Portvale) and O'Connor (Stokes City) for Crossley and A. Quinn (both 76 mins), McGrath (Waterford United) for Heary (85 mins).
DENMARK: Kemph; Andreasen, Christensen, Andersen, Jacobsen; Hansen, Karlsen, Haiba, Jorgensen; Panduro, El Banna, Subs: Johanson and Dogan for Karlsen and Panduro (both 64 ), Bunde for El Banna (77 mins). |
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