Memorable weekend for Curtis and Clancy

Timmy Clancy and Sam Curtis have reason to remember last night (Friday) for a long time to come.

They might have been separated by thousands of miles but both passed significant milestones in their respective careers.

In the Esenler Stadium in far off Istanbul early on Friday evening Curtis capped an all-action display when six minutes from the final whistle he fired home the only goal of the game as the Republic of Ireland u-21s defeated the host country 1-0.

Curtis, who is on loan at Peterborough United from Sheffield United, was very effective for Jim Crawford’s team with his raids from his right wing-back position caused all sorts of issues for the Turks while captain Joe Hodge and Corkman Matt Healy others to show up well.

The game appeared to be ambling to a scoreless draw when Hodge embarked on a surging run before delivering a defence-shredding through ball to Curtis. The teenager from Navan showed tremendous coolness in the heavy heat to direct the ball home for a dramatic winner.

It was Curtis’s first goal at u-21 level for his country. It secured Ireland’s fifth win of the campaign and brought them back to second in Group A , two points off leaders Italy but with a game in hand with Tuesday’s meeting with Latvia at Tallaght Stadium to come.

A few hours later Curtis’s former manager Timmy Clancy had reason to celebrate when his Cork City side secured the First Division title when they defeated UCD away. Like in Turkey one goal was all that was needed to win the game with Malik Dijksteel netting to copperfasten the victory and the precious three points.

Cork City’s form this season had ensured the title was going to be there’s from well out. It was only a matter of time and where and when they would get the extra points required.

The win also arrived the same week Clancy signed a new two-year contract with the Turner’s Cross club.