Connolly hits winner and u17s qualify for euros
Meath Outstanding Achievement award winner at Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim last January Dylan Connolly helped the Republic of Ireland get their UEFA Under-21 European Championship qualifying campaign off to a winning start over Andorra in Waterford last night with the crucial goal in a 1-0 victory.
Managed by Noel King, the team treated the bumper crowd to an entertaining performance as they secured three crucial points in their bid to qualify from Group 2 and secure a place in the 2017 finals in Poland.
Ireland dominated possession from the early stages and kept visiting goalkeeper Victor Silverio Pinto busy as they regularly took aim with shots from distance after spells of positive play.
Connolly brought the best out of Pinto on 19 minutes with a superb shot from 25 yards and the Ipswich Town winger broke the deadlock later when Waterford native Kenny McEvoy set up Connolly for the crucial goal.
The teams will meet again on Tuesday 8th September whe King’s side travel to Andorra for the second game in the group before their back-to-back clashes with Lithuania and Italy in October.
UNDER-19
THE Republic of Ireland U-19 side suffered a narrow defeat by the Czech Republic in their opening game of the UEFA Championships Elite Qualifying Round in Mannheim yesterday with Ashbourne's Kevin Toner playing the full game.
Athboy teenager Jamie McGrath was also in the panel, but didn't feature in the 90 minutes.
Paul Doolin's side went down to a 66th minute goal by substitute Patrik Schick after a tense affair that had produced few chances. Germany and Slovakia drew 1-1 in the other game in the group.
UNDER-17
Dunshauhglin player Luke Wade-Slater started for the u-17 Republic of Ireland side who have qualified for the European Championships.
The Republic of Ireland qualified for the UEFA U-17 Championships finals after a dramatic final day of their Elite Phase qualifying group in Grodzisk Wielkopolski, Poland yesterday despite a 0-1 defeat.
The team is managed by former NECSL representative player Tom Mohan who was aware that a single goal defeat to the hosts may have been enough to reach the finals in Bulgaria in May and with Greece drawing 0-0 with Belarus in the other fixture the Irish finished second and clinched qualification.
'It's good for football in Ireland and for the people who work with developing these players. It's great reward for the players, their clubs, families and the FAI and grassroots football across the country. These boys have delivered,' commented Mohan.
The Irish U-17s last played in the UEFA Finals in 2008.