International

Robbie Keane will be unable to join up with the Republic of Ireland senior squad for the matches against England at Wembley on May 29 and Georgia at Aviva Stadium on June 2 because of club commitments with LA Galaxy. Both matches fall outside the FIFA international window and although the player very much wanted to travel for the fixtures, he will be unable to do so because of club matches in the US. Robbie will now join up with the squad ahead of the World Cup qualification match in Dublin against the Faroe Islands and the friendly against Spain in New York.

Germany 10-1  Romania                           Germany and Romania played out an entertaining game at Shanowen Road on Wednesday morning on the final day of the UEFA U16 International Development Tournament. Both sides looked to get the ball down and play good football on the slick surface in Shanowen Road, home to St. Kevin’s Boys. Each team had good chances early on.  Romania’s Robert Valceanu came very close with a low, driven shot just past German goalkeeper Nikolas Tix’s right hand post. However, it was to be the Germans who would break the deadlock after eight minutes through Leon Kern who coolly slotted home the opener after latching on to a superb through ball by midfielder David Sauerland. Germany continued to trouble the Romanian defence with most of their joy coming down the left flank between Arianit Ferati and Jordan Tourunarigha. In the thirteenth minute, a comedy of errors and goalmouth scramble saw both Kern and Ferati hit the post with efforts before Marvin Mehlem punished the Romanian defence making it 2-0. Three minutes later, Romanian front man Alexandru Stoica nearly pulled one back for Romania after he pounced on the ball following a miss-kick from Tix in the German goal, but Defender Jannes Horn was on hand to clear the danger excellently. The Romanian players were gaining confidence now and looked to claw their way back into the game. Their best chance of the first half fell to Mihai Oarma who looked certain to score after cutting inside defender Matthias Bader but his effort was superbly saved by the onrushing Tix. Despite a good spell of pressure from Romania, Germany counter-attacked and made it 3-0 just after the half hour. The ball broke to Arianit Ferati who showed great pace down the left before delivering a low, driven ball across the face of the goal which was expertly tucked away by Kern who notched his second. This was the first of three goals in five minutes for the Germans. Ferati worked an opening and his shot rebounded to Marvin Mehlem who neatly finished making it four nil. Mehlem completed his hat-trick in the thirty-sixth minute with a neat touch and composed finish in the box following a sublime dinked pass over the Romanian defence from Suat Serdar. Serdar was impressive throughout the game and almost made it 6-0 before the break when he crashed his 25-yard free-kick off the bar. Germany made six changes at half-time and this was evident as Ivan Virgil pulled one back for Romania just five minutes into the second half after his deflected shot looped over the helpless Nikolas Tix after a mix-up in the penalty area. Germany soon found their rhythm again however. This time two substitutes linked up to make it 6-1. Kilian Kustermann did well in the middle before setting up Cihangir Oezlokman who cut inside on his right foot and fired home. It was attack after attack for Germany now and this time Kustermann himself got on the scoresheet. Kustermann made the most of a defensive error in the Romanian defence and ‘nutmegged’ Romanian goalkeeper Arpad Tordai. Shortly after, Oezlokman grabbed his second to make it 8-1 when Leandro Putaro’s shot hit the post and rebounded back into the path of the wide man who couldn’t believe his luck. Things went from bad to worse for Romania then. Their goalscorer, Ivan Virgil picked up his second booking of the game after a clumsy challenge on a german player and so was sent off accordingly leaving his side down to ten men. This was in no way a reflection of the type of game it was as both teams played in a competitive but fair manner. In credit to Romania, they continued to try and play passing football at all times which may somewhat have added to their downfall. Over-playing at the back created an onslaught of chances for the German players. On sixty-eight minutes, Marius Lehner combined delightfully with Leandro Putaro who delicately back heeled the ball back to Lehner who finished with aplomb to make it 9-1. Four minutes from time defender Jannes Horn who took the captain’s armband from David Puetz at halftime rounded off a stylish and emphatic win for his team when he got on the end of a Dren Feka free-kick across goal. It was a fitting end to a game in which Horn epitomized his side’s class and strength. The calibre of the German squad was just too strong on the day for a Romanian side that did show glimpses of fantastic young potential. The game, along with the Republic of Ireland beating Belgium 2-0 in Fran Cooke Park concludes the Uefa u16 International Development Tournament held in Dublin over the last four days. Germany: Nikolas Tix, Jordan Tourunarigha (Dren Feka 40’), David Puetz (Kevin Ikpide 40’), Suat Serdar (Marius Lehner 59’), leon Kern (Kilian Kustermann 40’), Arianit Ferati (Cihangir Oezlokman 40’), Matthias Bader (Frank Ronstadt 40’), Marvin Mehlem (Leandro Puatro 40’), David Sauerland, Tim Galleski (Demarveay Sheron 20’).  Romania: Arpad Tordai, Victor Rogola, Dragos Nedelcu, Cristian Manea, Andrei Tarcoveanu, Alexandru Stoica, Robert Valceanu, Rares Padurariu (Mircea Moraru 79’), Ivan Virgil, Andrei Trascu (Manea Mihai Alin 40’), Mihai Oarma. 

O’Connor’s U16s march home with another victory   Belgium 0-2 Ireland Dolan 15’                                    Ramadam 35’   Wednesday, May 15, 2013 Ireland came into their final UEFA U16 Development tournament game today (Wednesday) against Belgium in the Oscar Traynor Development Centre a little shaken after being defeated by Romania on Monday. Today’s opposition, Belgium, had previously triumphed a considerable 5-0 over their Romanian counterparts in the opening tournament game on Sunday. The game, which kicked off at 11am, was initially slow to get moving with strong winds and torrential showers holding both teams back. Belgium were forced to make an early substitution just seven minutes into the game when Dries Wouters limped off after a strong tackle just outside the Belgian box. Play during the initial minutes was dominated around midfield, with both sides battling hard to overcome the adverse weather conditions they faced. The game finally came to life in the eleventh minute when Ireland number 15, Graham Kelly played a great ball forward down the left wing for Cemal Ramadam, who was narrowly beaten to goalfront by Ilkan Cavus. A play which we were to see for much of the game, with Ramadam grafting hard throughout. The fruits of Kelly and Ramadam’s strong partnership came to light in the fifteenth minute however, when Graham Kelly bombed down the wing and played a great ball forward to Ramadam who picked Anthony Dolan out after positioning himself well and had a clear shot on goal. Firing in Ireland’s first of the day. This initial lead energised the boys in green, who then dominated play for the rest of the first half. Belgium responded at times, with Jeff Callebaut firing the ball over the Irish bar with 23 minutes gone. Belgium piled pressure on Ireland however, holding the ball in their half and defending well where necessary. Graham Kelly proved Ireland’s great playmaker of the first half, creating lots of chances, but Ireland not quite getting there. With 35 mins gone in the first half Cemal Ramadam was taken down in the box for a penalty. Ramadam took the shot himself, confidently curling it into the bottom left hand corner of the Belgian net. Ramadam, clearly inspired by his appearance on the scoresheet, could have extended Ireland’s lead to three goals with 39 minutes gone lobbing the Belgian goalkeeper, but narrowly missing. Approaching the break, Belgium 0-2 Ireland. Belgium were clearly keen to turn the game around in the second half, making no less than five substitutions at the interval, introducing a host of fresh legs to rejuvenate play.   Ireland’s first chance of the second half came three minutes into play, when Anthony Breslin’s free kick narrowly skimmed the Belgian post. Cemal Ramadam replied shortly after with a shot on Belgian goal, which was capably saved by sub goalkeeper Quintin Steelant. Belgium came close five minutes later when a scramble in front of the Irish goal resulted in Jeff Callebaut’s header being saved by Evan Moran. Ireland let their heads drop momentarily in the second half, conceding no less than four frees in front of their own goal. However, a strong line of defence cleared any Belgian attempts to narrow the gap. Belgium looked the stronger team for part of the second half, pressing forward and looking very dangerous in front of Irish goal. Another scramble at the Irish goal with 60 minutes gone resulted in a header from Tony Amrani going narrowly wide. Ireland responded well, and hung on to the lead without conceding a goal right up to the final whistle, despite a potentially fatal fumble by Evan Moran in the Irish goal with just four minutes to go. FT Ireland 2-0 Belgium. Today’s other result in the UEFA U16 Development tournament saw Germany trounce Romania 10-1 in Shanowen Road, which means that both Ireland and Germany finish the tournament on six points each. Ireland narrowly beating Germany on head to head following Sunday’s 1-0 win. Ireland: Evan Moran, Colm Deasy, Anthony Breslin,Danny Kane, Dan Casey, George Poynton, Shane Elworthy (Malike Benrougguibi 62’), Robbie Duggan (capt), Cemal Ramadan, Anthony Dolan, Graham Kelly (Derek Daly 76’)   Belgium: Nordin Jackers (Quintin Steelant 41’), Dries Wouters (Nathan Leyder 7’), Senna Miangue, Ilkan Cavus (Arno Verschueren 41’) , Paolino Bertaccini (Ryan Kabir 41’), Youri Tielemans (Capt), Thibault Vlietinck (Holly Tshimanga 41), Benoit Nyssen, Jeff Callebaut (Dylan Damraoui 41’), Ayrton Mboko (Tony Amrani 41’), Dylan De Bruycker (Amarildo Gsoka 58’)

U21 head coach Noel King names 16 man squad to face Denmark on May 31 Wednesday May 15, 2013 Republic of Ireland U21 head coach Noel King today (Wednesday) named a 16 man squad to face Denmark in an international friendly in Fredericia Stadium, Fredericia, Denmark at 4pm (local time) on Friday May 31. The game will form part of Ireland’s final preparations before the start of their UEFA EURO 2015 qualifying campaign on August 14, when they play the Faroe Islands in Torshavn. King’s selection sees the introduction of Barry McNamee from Derry City, who is the only uncapped and home-based player in the squad. Five Airtricity League players have also been invited to train with the squad in Dublin, along with Selcuk Tidim from Germany. Some may be included in the squad to travel to Denmark. As the season draws to a close, King’s squad selections have seen big developments since August 2012. Sean McDermott, Shane Duffy, Joe Shaughnessy, Derrick Williams, John O’Sullivan, and Sean Murray have all made first team appearances for their respective clubs this season. While Aaron McCarey, Anthony O’Connor, Matt Doherty, Sean McGinty, Anthony Forde, Frankie Sutherland and Aiden O’Brien have all picked up first team experience on loan spells. Samir Carruthers also captained Aston Villa to the NextGen Series championship. Speaking today, King said ‘This is our last preparation game before our first EURO 2015 Qualifier against the Faroe Islands in August, so it’s obviously our final chance to see players before then. Some players are missing through injury, suspensions etc, but this could be the case in August also, so we’ll prepare with that in mind.’ When asked about his opposition for the fixture, King said ‘Denmark are terrific opposition for us for this game. They are a strong side, but we’d prefer to face a powerful team in order to prepare for the important qualifiers we have in August.’ Ireland will assemble in Dublin on May 26 for training before travelling to Denmark on May 29.   Name DOB Club Caps Goals Aaron McCarey 14/01/92 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 5 0 Sean McDermott 30/05/93 Sandnes Ulf FC 2 0 Shane Duffy 01/01/92 Everton FC 12 1 Anthony O'Connor 25/10/92 Blackburn Rovers FC 2 0 Matt Doherty 16/01/92 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 3 1 Joe Shaughnessy 06/07/92 Aberdeen FC 2 0 Derrick Williams 17/01/93 Aston Villa FC 2 0 Sean McGinty 11/08/93 Unattached 2 0 Carl McHugh 05/02/93 Bradford City FC 2 0 Samir Carruthers 04/04/93 Aston Villa FC 4 0 John O'Sullivan 18/09/93 Blackburn Rovers FC 2 0 Frankie Sutherland 06/12/93 QPR FC 2 0 Barry McNamee 17/02/92 Derry City FC 0 0 Sean Murray 11/10/93 Watford FC     3 1 Anthony Forde 16/11/93 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 4 1 Aiden O’Brien 04/10/93 Millwall FC 2 2   Training 26th – 29th May Daryl Horgan 10/08/92 Cork City FC 0 0 Roberto Lopes 17/06/92 Bohemian FC 0 0 David O’Leary 17/07/92 Limerick FC 0 0 Ciaran Gallagher 01/04/92 Finn Harps FC 0 0 Danny Morrissey 13/12/93 Cork City FC 0 0 Selcuk Tidim 28/06/92 FC Hansa Rostock II 0 0