COLIN OโBRIENโS IRELAND team booked their place in this summerโs Euro U17 finals in Hungary with a dramatic win over Cyprus today.
A late injury-time goal by Bohemians player Nickson Okosun clinched a 3-2 victory to ensure they progressed from the elite round of qualification.
Ireland entered the game on the back of their 2-2 draw in last Tuesdayโs opener with Italy and then had defeated Ukraine 3-0 on Friday.
๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐๐ฝ๐ฟ๐๐! ๐ฎ๐ช๐
โ Ireland Football โฝ๏ธ๐ฎ๐ช (@IrelandFootball) March 13, 2023
โฑ๏ธ 94 mins | Nickson Okosun comes on a sub
โฑ๏ธ 96 mins | Nickson Okosun scores the goal to send Ireland MU17s to the EUROs
A dramatic 3-2 win in Paphos ๐ #IRLU17 | #COYBIG | #WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/NeWQnXP7a8
They trailed 1-0 at half-time before Luke Kehir equalised in the 62nd minute, but Cyprus regained the lead in the 73rd minute.
Shamrock Rovers player Naj Razi equalised for Ireland in the 82nd minute and then Okosun popped up with the priceless winning goal.
Ireland now advance to the finals which will be held from 17 May to 2 June.
QUALIFIED! | #IRLU17 | ๐ฎ๐ช 3-2 ๐จ๐พ
โ Ireland Football โฝ๏ธ๐ฎ๐ช (@IrelandFootball) March 13, 2023
Amazing! ๐
Nickson Okosun scores a 96th minute winner to send Ireland to the U17 EUROs ๐๐๐
A fantastic achievement for Colin OโBrien, staff and players โ๏ธ#COYBIG | #WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/c8L3NEUXME
Thereโs third world countryโs that have better stadiums than we have โฆ (outside Dublin) .. disgrace
@John McK: quantity over quality
@John McK: just because you say it doesnโt make it true. Thereโs no third world countries with similar populations that have a stadium like Semple Stadium in a town of the size of Thurles.
Itโs hard to think that โฌ10 m on Semple would be anything other than a cosmetic patch up. And the stadium is still in Thurles!! On the other hand, the same amount spent on rebuilding the Mackie stand in Limerick would leave Munster with two stadia capable of hosting finals and other major events in cities with decent connections.
They could spend 10m bulldozing the whole town, kip.
Having been at the Munster hurling final last year, I thought the toilets in the Kinnane stand were the most shambolic crush I have ever experienced. Tiny toilet, huge stand and lots of people absolutely wasted. A recipe for disaster.