Lee and Peppard feature as Republic 17s win

The Republic of Ireland under-17s got their UEFA European Championship qualifying campaign off to an ideal start with a 5-1 triumph over Andorra in Estadi Comunal today with Trim duo Cian Lee and Dominic Peppard featuring in the victory.

A goal from Rowan Roache put Ireland ahead going into the break and they shifted up a level in the second period with Roache again scoring alongside Dominic Peppard, Adam Idah and Aaron Connolly.

Head coach Colin O'Brien had hoped to keep his team's focus steady going into the first game of a tricky Group 2, which also contains Greece and Kazakhstan, because any slip-up could prove costly.

The aim is to make it out of the qualifying round and secure passage through to the Elite Round, where the group winners will progress to the finals tournament in Croatia.

Roache, who plays his club football with Blackpool, kept his nerve on 37 minutes to fire Ireland into the lead. Slick passing, clever movement and patience all contributed to that opening goal.

O'Brien's team continued to use the ball well in the second-half, but they were even more powerful when surging forward and the next goal arrived on 53 minutes courtesy of Peppard.

The goals started to flow in after that with Roache, Idah and substitute Connolly all scoring. Overall, Ireland hit the target nine times from 15 attempts and netted five goals to secure the three points.

'It was good to get the three points and make a winning start. This was the first outing for these players in a European game and it took a long while for us to settle then we scored a goal before half-time,' said head coach O'Brien.

Ireland will take on Kazakhstan on Monday before they meet Greece in their final Group 2 game on Thursday.