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Sublime strike from Brighton teenager the highlight as Ireland earn convincing win

Megan Mackey scored a brilliant goal as Dave Connell’s side made it two wins from two in the Euro U19 Elite Round.

IRELAND CONTINUED THEIR impressive start to the Euro U19 Elite Round with a 4-0 win over Serbia today.

Following on from an opening 4-0 victory over Hungary during the week, Kildare native Tiegan Ruddy opened the scoring with a brilliant strike from 25 yards out to give Dave Connell’s side a slender 1-0 half-time lead.

A powerful run and clinical finish by Kelly Brady — the first time she has scored at this level — doubled Ireland’s advantage after the break.

Megan Mackey, the team captain who plies her trade at Brighton, then made it three with an audacious effort from distance.

And in the dying seconds, Brady grabbed her second and Ireland’s fourth to ensure a comprehensive win.

“It was a great win,” Connell said afterwards. “The first-half was very even, and we got a lovely goal that settled us. I thought our performance in the second-half was probably the best we ever played. Really, really brilliant. It sets us up nicely.”

The Irish side face reigning European champions Spain on Tuesday, with a draw potentially enough to earn them qualification for the finals in Scotland this July.

Gavan Casey and Ryan Bailey are joined by Bernard Jackman to look back on a thrilling weekend of European rugby on the latest episode of The42 Rugby Weekly:


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Paul Fennessy
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