Aspire Academy 0 - 1 Republic of Ireland

                                      Jordan Philpott (36 Mins)

Ireland came agonisingly close to opening the scoring in the first-half when denied by the woodwork on three occasions but Phillpott found the range in the 36th minute.

The Kilreen Celtic winger broke the deadlock when he dribbled past Aspire's right-back before drilling a shot low past the goalkeeper.
The 'keeper managed to get a hand to the ball but the sheer power of Phillpott's shot took it beyond his reach.

Vincent Butler's Ireland team lost 2-0 to Aspire's Under-16 team on Sunday having only arrived late the night before following a day's travelling from Dublin. The manager made seven changes for today's fixture from Sunday's starting team and the new-look team began the match brightly.

Robert Brady, Eoin Wearan and Paul Whyte all saw their shots rebound back off the post in the first-half as the pace of Ireland's passing began to stretch the host's defence.

Once Phillpott provided the goal, Ireland played with an even larger degree of comfort and in the end, the score-line could have more convincing.

Ireland manager Vincent Butler said afterwards: "We totally controlled the match and did enough to win by more goals. I was pleased with how the squad responded to the defeat on Sunday and we head into our final match against Aspire on Thursday with one victory each."

"The Aspire team today were not as strong as the side we played against on Sunday but I'm sure they will put out a full-strength team on Thursday. It should be an interesting game - our lads have recovered from the tiredness of the journey and they will be fully fit for the final match."

Republic of Ireland
Keith Wright (WFTA)
Rory Gartlan (Renmore)
Stephen O'Donnell (Quay Celtic)
Daniel Joyce (Belvedere)
Matt Doherty (Belvedere)
Eoin Wearan (St. Kevin's Boys)
Sean Skelly (Belvedere)
Robert Brady (St. Kevin's Boys)
Jordan Phillpott (Kilreen Celtic)
Ethan Mannion (St. Kevin's Boys)
Paul Whyte (Ballinroad).

Subs:
Jean Biamsumba - (Confey) for Mannion, 50 Mins
Conor Murphy - (St.Kevins Boys) for Whyte (Both 50 mins)
Jack Carty (Hodson Bay) for Gartlan (60 mins)

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