Soccer Scene

Preview: Womens International Under 17 - Poland
European Elite Stage
24.03.2012 at 15:00 -

The Republic of Ireland Womens U17 squad begin their UEFA U17 Womens European Championship Elite Phase group in Austria tomorrow against Poland (11am Irish time).

Heavy snow in the region has put the match in doubt although a decision on postponing it will not be made until tomorrow morning. However, the weather has affected the Irish teams preparations and they were forced to move this mornings training session indoors before locating an artificial surface on which to hold this afternoons practice outdoors.

Ireland are in Group 2 along with Norway, Poland and hosts Austria and the winners will qualify for the finals in Nyon, Switzerland, in June, a feat the Irish last achieved in 2010 when they finished second after losing the final on penalties to Spain.

Dave Connells side qualified for the Elite Phase after winning Group 9 in the First Round with a 100 per cent record against Finland, Georgia and hosts Belarus while Poland came out of Group 11 where they beat the Faroe Islands and Slovakia before losing 3-0 to Spain in the group decider.

"We have watched the DVD of that game and seen that they are a strong physical side who play to a system. They have a lot of big players and looked very dangerous at set-pieces," observed Connell.

"They are going to be difficult but that is to be expected because at this stage of the competition there are no poor teams. The girls are confident and looking forward to the week."

Connell has made four changes to the squad which qualified with Brooke Dunne, Shannon Carson, Rachel Doyle and Jessica Gargan coming in for Amy Corcoran, Megan Lynch, Megan Kelleher and Sara McGeough.

The only worry when the squad assembled in Dublin last Friday was Lisa Casserly of Castlebar Celtic but she came through her fitness test and travelled with the squad.

This will be Irelands 30th game since the UEFA U17 Championships began and they will be looking for their 20th victory having won 19, drawn three and lost seven of the 29 played since the championship began in the 2007-08 season.

Republic of Ireland U17 Womens Squad: Chelsea Noonan (Douglas Hall), Brooke Dunne (Peamount United), Keeva Keenan (WFTA), Rebekah Carroll (Shamrock Rovers), Lauren Dwyer (Wexford Ladies), Payton Goulding (Minnesota Thunder USA), Savannah McCarthy (Listowel Celtic), Shannon Carson (St. Marys), Rachel Doyle (Peamount United), Ciara Rossiter (Wexford Ladies), Avril Brierley (St. Josephs), Lisa Casserly (Castlebar Celtic), Amy O Connor (Cork Womens FC), Amber Barrett (Lagan Harps), Megan Connolly (College Corinthians), Jessica Gargan (Peamount United), Aisling Frawley (Wexford Ladies), Ciara McNamara (St. Marys, Cork).

Group 2 Schedule
March 26, 2013
Republic of Ireland v Poland, Stadt Sportanlage, St Polten (AUT), 10am (Irish time).
Norway v Austria, Wienerwaldstadion, Neulengbach (AUT), 5.30pm (Irish time).
March 28, 2013
Norway v Poland, Stadt Sportanlage, St Polten (AUT), 10am (Irish time).
Austria v Republic of Ireland, Wienerwaldstadion, Neulengbach (AUT), 5.30pm (Irish time).
March 31, 2013
Republic of Ireland v Norway Stadium: Stadt Sportanlage, St Polten (AUT), 2.30pm (Irish time).
Poland v Austria Stadium, Wienerwaldstadion, Neulengbach (AUT), 2.30pm (Irish time).



History


H / A / N Matches W D L Goals + / -
H 4 2 0 2 5 - 5 +0
A 2 1 1 0 4 - 2 +2
N 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 +0
Total 6 3 1 2 9 - 7 +2


Date&time Comp. H / A / N Final score
27.03.2013 at 15:00 European Qualifier H 1 - 2
24.03.2012 at 15:00 European Elite Stage H 1 - 0
13.04.2010 at 15:00 European Elite Stage A 1 - 1
19.08.2008 at 19:00 Tournament A 3 - 1
24.02.2008 at 12:00 Friendly H 2 - 1
22.02.2008 at 14:30 Friendly H 1 - 2
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