IRELAND’S BID TO qualify for the Women’s U17 European Championships began with an emphatic 6-0 victory over Faroe Islands at Turner’s Cross tonight.

Substitute Carla McManus scored a sublime hat-trick as Alannah McEvoy and Orla Casey also netted for Dave Bell’s team in Cork.

It took the home side just 12 minutes to break the deadlock and once McEvoy scored her second before the break, Ireland were in cruise control.

McManus was introduced just before the hour mark and took just 10 minutes before coming to the party with the first of three goals to seal a routine win for the girls in green.

Ireland welcome Belarus to Turner’s Cross on Friday before hosting Iceland on Bank Holiday Monday to round off their Group 10 campaign.

The winners and runners-up in each group progress through to the Elite Round, with the 24 teams then drawn into six groups. Seven teams then qualify for the finals in Czech Republic next May.

Republic of Ireland: Turner; Lobato (Mannix 48), Doyle, Fahey, Grier (Casey 72); Mackey, Ruddy, Toland; Payne, McEvoy, Carolan (McManus 56).

Faroe Islands: Mikkelsen; Jacobsen, Rebekka J Olsen, Andreasen, Mortensen; Runa Olsen (S Olsen 56), Danielsen; Rebekka K Olsen, Torolvsdottir, Lamhauge (Henriksen 72); Hansdottir (Rasmusdottir 41).

The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!

Living in Manchester a ‘bit of a disaster’ for Mourinho

Ireland stars named top and 5th in list of Premier League’s fastest players