Lee in action for Republic of Ireland against Romania

Cian Lee from Trim featured for the Republic of Ireland u-17s in a 2-0 friendly victory against Romania in Spain yesterday afternoon.

The team, managed by Colin O'Brien, beat the Romanians thanks to two goals from Sheffield United's Jordan Doherty.

This win followed on from a similar victory over Hungary last Thursday, Lee was an unused substitute for that game, but he made the starting 11 yesterday.

Lee was upgraded from standby only days before the scheduled departure for the trip to Spain due to an injury to another player.

He was one of the nominees for the Meath Young Sportsperson of the Year at the Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim last month.

O'Brien's side are preparing for the UEFA u-17 Championships Elite Qualifying Phase where they will face hosts Cyprus in March along with Slovakia and Faroe Islands as they bid to qualify for the finals that will be hosted by Croatia in May.

'Overall today's game wrapped up a very productive week for us,' said O'Brien.

'Romania were a very good test and we took a good opportunity to look at the full squad and we achieved that.

'The players will have done themselves no harm. Our discipline was very good today when Romania put them under pressure and things got a bit niggly.

'The week has been a good help for our preparations for the UEFA Elite Phase next month,' he concluded.

Republic of Ireland - Tom Murphy, Lee O'Connor, Cian Lee, Aaron Connolly, Marcus Rowley, Brandon Kavanagh, Jordan Doherty, Richard O'Farrell, Gavin Kilkenny, Ronan Manning, Darryl Walsh. Subs - Aaron Bolger for Rowley, Kameron Ledwidge for O'Connor and Rowan Roache for Connolly all 46mins, Conor Coventry for O'Farrell and Luke Nolan for Manning both 75m.

PANEL DETAILS
Republic of Ireland u-17 panel - Cian Lee (St Patrick's Ath), Brian Maher (St Patrick's Athletic), Tom Murphy (Everton), Lee O'Connor (Man Utd), Kameron Ledwidge (St Kevin's Boys), Nathan Collins (Cherry Orchard), Jordan Doherty (Sheffield Utd), Aaron Bolger (Shamrock Rovers), Conor Coventry (West Ham), Brandon Kavanagh (Bohemian FC), Rowan Roache (Blackpool), Richie O'Farrell (St Patrick's Ath), Marcus Rowley (Malaga), Adam Idah (Corinthians Boys), Luke Nolan (St Patrick's Ath), Gavin Kilkenny (Bournemouth), Aaron Connolly (Brighton), Daryl Walsh (Waterford), Tyriek Wright (Lakewood FC), Ronan Manning (Galway Utd)