PAUL DOOLIN’S IRELAND got their UEFA U19 Championships off to a winning start this evening with a 2-1 win over Greece.

Blackburn Rovers man Anthony O’Connor scored a goal in each half, either side of a Greek strike from Giorgos Katidis.

Both Irish goals came as a result of corners from Sean Murray.

Elsewhere in the group, the Czech Republic beat hosts Romania 3-1. Ireland meet the Czechs on Saturday in a game which will be live on Eurosport.

Republic of Ireland: Aaron McCarey, Matthew Doherty, Derrick Williams, John Egan, Anthony O’Connor, Jeff Hendrick, Samir Carruthers, John O’Sullivan, Conor Murphy, Anthony Forde, Sean Murray.

Substitutes: Sean McDermott, Kevin Knight, Kane Ferdinand (on for John O’Sullivan, 85 mins), Eoin Wearen, Declan Walker, Joe Shaughnessy (on for  Derrick Williams, 80 mins), Connor Smith (on for Conor Murphy 78 mins).

Greece: Kapino, Stafylidis, Lagos, Potouridis, Mavrias, Fortounis, Karelis, Marinakis, Rougalas, Diamanatakos, Katidis.

Substitutes: Kaldelis, Skondras, Stamogiannos, Kotsaridis, Bakasetas, Bouzas, Kolovos.

Referee: Pawel Gil (Poland)

More to follow

Check out the match stats here>

A Bluffer’s Guide to… the UEFA U19 Championship