European Qualifier
13.10.1998 at 19:00 - Arklow
Evans wants his U-21's to
go for broke against Maltese
IRISH U-21 manager Ian Evans will be hoping that his week-long bonding session with his young players will pay rich dividends when they take on Malta in this afternoon's U-21 Euro qualifier at Arklow Town FC.
Unlike senior boss Mick McCarthy, Evans decided to keep his players in Ireland after their scheduled qualifying match with Yugoslavia was called off and now he hopes his players will respond with a goals glut against the group's whipping boys.
Ireland drew 2-2 with Croatia in their opening fixture at Kilkenny last month but they will have a new striking partnership today because of a three-match suspension handed down to Manchester City's Barry Conlon who was red card at Buckley Park last month.
Aston Villa's Alan Lee is the only new cap as he comes in to link-up with fit-again Darryl Clare of Grimsby Town who was one of the stars of the drawn game with Croatia.
Lee will make his debut in today's game while as yet uncapped Irish U-18 stars Barry Quinn of Coventry City and Stephen McPhail of Leeds United will start on the bench.
The pre-match instructions from Evans will be simple and to the point: "Go for broke lads against one of the genuine small fry of world football.
"I think the few days we had together worked a treat and it certainly helped to bond the players. I just hope it all pays off for us now and we come away from Arklow with a big win under our belts," said Evans.
"I want us to build on the 2-2 draw with Croatia and there's no reason why we can't do so," added Evans who travelled to Macedonia to see the home team score a 1-0 win over the Maltese thanks to a second half penalty.
"Like most small soccer nations, Malta defended in depth and I expect they will approach today's game in much the same way. So it's up to us to get in behind them. Alan Lee will come in to fill the slot left vacant by Barry Conlon and I have full confidence in him."
The return to match fitness of Grimsby's Darryl Clare is a massive pre-match boost for the Republic as he was carrying an injury when he reported in for duty a week ago.
Thanks to team physio Ciaran Murray he is now fully fit to lead the attack.
Evans had always planned to keep any changes in his team to a minimum and he goes with the bulk of the side that drew with the Croats last month. However there was some disappointment for Cork City's tower-block centre-half Derek Coughlan who did not make the team on this occasion.
Coughlan (21), the domestic Soccer Writers' Player of the Month award winner made his debut against Croatia and had a faultless match up to ten minutes into the second half when he was substituted by Evans for "tactical reasons."
Now he finds himself excluded again and on the bench as St. Patrick's Athletic defender Colin Hawkins, the National League's 'Player of the Year' gets the nod instead.
It is a surprising choice given that Hawkins is only just back playing after a lengthy injury.
IRELAND U-21: Alex O'Reilly (West Ham United); Dave Worrell (Blackburn Rovers) capt, Colin Hawkins (St. Pat's Ath), Robert Ryan (Millwall); Danny Boxall (Brentford), Niall Inman (Peterborough United), Thomas Morgan (St. Patrick's Athletic), Alan Mahon (Tranmere Rovers), Kevin Kilbane (West Bromwich Albion); Alan Lee (Aston Villa) and Darryl Clare (Grimsby Town).
Subs. Anthony Folan (Brentford), Stephen McPhail (Leeds Utd), Ross D'arcy (Spurs), Derek Coughlan (Cork City), Derek O'Connor (unattached), Stephen Baker (Middlesbrough) and Stephen Grant (Stockport County).
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