IRELAND ARE OUT of the U17 European Championships after today’s 1-0 defeat to England.
The Boys in Green needed a win to go through to the quarter-finals but suffered a second loss at the finals, with man-of-the-match Marcus Edwards netting on 71 minutes.
Tom Mohan made three changes from the side which lost 2-0 to to Italy. With Trevor Clarke injured, Josh Barrett came into the starting line-up while Luke Wade-Slater and Robert McCourt replaced Zachary Elbouzedi and Jamie Aherne.
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The early exchanges saw Barrett head into the side-netting after connecting with a corner to the back post in between free-kicks from Marcus Edwards and Nathan Holland, which both missed the target.
England were relatively quiet in the opening 20 minutes but midfielder Daniel Wright opened up the Irish defence with a well-timed pass into the feet of Edwards. The Spurs man kept the strike low and watched it deflect behind for a corner.
Barrett showed pace and good feet to create a chance moments later, but he was unable to find a team-mate with his cut-back.
Edwards was at the centre of England’s positive play and his chipped ball into the path of Layton Ndukwu was drilled the wrong side of the post. Ike Ugbo was then put through by the same player but his finishing didn’t match the pass.
England piled on the pressure before half-time and had a couple opportunities but O’Keeffe blocked brilliantly from Ndukwo and Kelleher got a strong hand to keep out Holland.
Ireland should really have taken the lead four shortly after the restart. Scully’s powerful drive was kept out by Paul Woolston and the England keeper picked himself up to bat away JJ Lunney’s follow-up attempt from close range.
England substitute Chris Willock then made pace for himself on the edge of the box and shot straight at Kelleher.
With Italy and the Netherlands drawing 1-1, Ireland needed two goals to progress, but fell behind to a goal of real quality. Edwards took possession 30 yards out from goal and evaded a couple of markers then launched a right-footed shot into the top corner.
Despite being competitive in all three group games, Mohan will be disappointed that his team failed to score in the tournament. England and Italy, meanwhile, move on to the knockout stages.
Ireland bow out of U17s European Championships after Spurs youngster's spectacular strike
Updated at 18.40
Ireland 0
England 1
IRELAND ARE OUT of the U17 European Championships after today’s 1-0 defeat to England.
The Boys in Green needed a win to go through to the quarter-finals but suffered a second loss at the finals, with man-of-the-match Marcus Edwards netting on 71 minutes.
Tom Mohan made three changes from the side which lost 2-0 to to Italy. With Trevor Clarke injured, Josh Barrett came into the starting line-up while Luke Wade-Slater and Robert McCourt replaced Zachary Elbouzedi and Jamie Aherne.
The early exchanges saw Barrett head into the side-netting after connecting with a corner to the back post in between free-kicks from Marcus Edwards and Nathan Holland, which both missed the target.
England were relatively quiet in the opening 20 minutes but midfielder Daniel Wright opened up the Irish defence with a well-timed pass into the feet of Edwards. The Spurs man kept the strike low and watched it deflect behind for a corner.
Barrett showed pace and good feet to create a chance moments later, but he was unable to find a team-mate with his cut-back.
Edwards was at the centre of England’s positive play and his chipped ball into the path of Layton Ndukwu was drilled the wrong side of the post. Ike Ugbo was then put through by the same player but his finishing didn’t match the pass.
England piled on the pressure before half-time and had a couple opportunities but O’Keeffe blocked brilliantly from Ndukwo and Kelleher got a strong hand to keep out Holland.
Ireland should really have taken the lead four shortly after the restart. Scully’s powerful drive was kept out by Paul Woolston and the England keeper picked himself up to bat away JJ Lunney’s follow-up attempt from close range.
England substitute Chris Willock then made pace for himself on the edge of the box and shot straight at Kelleher.
With Italy and the Netherlands drawing 1-1, Ireland needed two goals to progress, but fell behind to a goal of real quality. Edwards took possession 30 yards out from goal and evaded a couple of markers then launched a right-footed shot into the top corner.
Despite being competitive in all three group games, Mohan will be disappointed that his team failed to score in the tournament. England and Italy, meanwhile, move on to the knockout stages.
IRELAND: Kelleher, O’Keeffe, Masterson (c) , Wade-Slater Anthony (Scully 34’), Lunney, Leahy, Agyei-Tabi, Levingston (Elbouzedi), Ronan, McCourt, Barrett (Aherne 81.
ENGLAND: Woolston, Yates, Dasilva, Oxford (c), Collinge (Suliman 49′), Holland, Wright, Edwards, Kane, Ugbo (Mavididi 73′), Ndukwu (Willock 50′).
Originally published at 8.45
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