Greece
Republic of Ireland
Gibraltar
France 1
Latvia 2
Zambia
Scotland 0
Slovakia 0
Republic of Ireland 2 - 0 Lithuania
U17 Women off to winning start
FAI PRESS RELEASE
FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND
Friday, October 17, 2014
Goals in either half from Sarah McKevitt and captain Jamie Finn ensured victory for Dave Connell’s side and, with hosts Serbia and Romania drawing in the other Group 4 game, it means that Ireland can secure qualification for the Elite Phase if they beat Romania on Sunday.
This was a game which Ireland dominated from start to finish and, after creating 30 chances and hitting the target a dozen times, the biggest disappointment at the final whistle for Connell was that the margin of victory wasn’t greater.
“We certainly created enough changes to have won by more,” said Connell. “A lot of the efforts were straight at the keeper and would probably have found the net if the girls had shown a little more composure in front of goal. However, that’s something that we can work on. For a lot of the girls this was their first taste of competitive international football so it was a big step for them and they did very well.
“Our main aim today was to win the game and, with the other game ending in a draw, we are now in with a chance of qualifying on Sunday. There has been a lot of rain here and the pitch was very heavy underfoot so that didn’t help but we created a lot of chances, kept a clean sheet and won the game so we achieved what we set out to do.”
After going close early on through Eleanor Doyle and Chloe Moloney, Ireland opened the scoring after 12 minutes when Sarah McKevitt cut in from the wing and slalomed past two defenders before unleashing a left-footed shot into the top corner for an excellent goal.
Ireland had plenty of chances after that to extend their lead but failed to beat Lithuania goalkeeper Aušra Klevečkaitė and then needed skipper and ‘keeper Amanda McQuillan to be at her best to keep out a free-kick from Evelina Buividavičiūtė in added on time at the end of the first half.
Connell’s half-time team talk certainly did the trick because two minutes into the second half, Ireland doubled their lead. A corner from McKevitt went beyond the back post but the ball was recycled and when it was delivered back into the area centre-half Jamie Finn met it and crashed it into the net off the underside of the crossbar.
The rest of the half was a replica of the first period with the Irish totally dominant but failing to find the target and even in the third minute of injury-time at the end of the game they had three shots blocked by desperate Lithuania defending before substitute Aislinn Meaney shot wide.
Two Irish players, Saoirse Noonan (calf) and Evelyn Daly (ankle) picked up knocks and are doubtful for Sunday’s second group game against Romania.
Republic of Ireland: Amanda McQuillan (GK); Niamh Prior, Courtney Higgins, Jamie Finn (C), Chloe Moloney, Evelyn Daly, Sarah McKevitt, Saorise Noonan (Aislinn Meaney 71), Eleanor Doyle (Danielle Murray 58), Dearbhaile Beirne (Fiona Donnolly 76), Lauryn O'Callaghan. Unused: Subs: Nadine Maher (GK), Niamh Farrelly, Lucy McCarton, Sophie Watters.
Lithuania: Aušra Klevečkaitė (GK), Lolita Žižytė, Paulina Sarkanaitė (Eimante Žalytė), Sonata Stankevičiūtė, Roneta Mardosaitė (Kristina Murinaitė 77), Paulina Potapova (Paulina Narbutaitė 50), Vaida Aliukonytė (C), Lijana Gedminaitė, Anika Kyžaitė, Evelina Buividavičiūtė, Karolina Zabolotnaja. Unused Subs: Domantė Grėbliūnaitė, Justina Baltrūnaitė 71, Vismantė Čereškaitė,
Referee: Virginie Derouaux (Belguim)
RESULTS
UEFA WU17 Championships Qualifying Round Group 4
Friday, October 17
Republic of Ireland 2 Lithuania 0,
Serbia 1 Romania 1
FIXTURES
Sunday, October 19
Republic of Ireland v Romania, Backa, Subotica (SRB), 1pm (Irish time)
Lithuania v Serbia, Gradski, Subotica (SRB), 1pm (Irish time)
Wednesday, October 22
Romania v Lithuania, Gradski, Subotica (SRB), 1pm (Irish time)
Serbia v Republic of Ireland, Backa, Subotica (SRB), 1pm (Irish time)
Women’s U17s ready for opener against Lithuania
Head coach Dave Connell and his squad flew out to Serbia today after a four day training camp in Dublin and the Irish manager is confident that his side can get off to a good start.
“There is nothing easy at this stage but we have prepared well and hopefully that is enough,” said Connell.
After the disappointment of seeing the U19s fail to make the Elite Phase last month, Connell knows only too well nothing can be taken granted.
“We are aware of the pitfalls. The so-called weaker teams are getting stronger and we know we are in for three tough games this week.”
The squad is backboned by players from Metropolitan Girls League sides Shelbourne and Peamount United, who have dominated the national under-age scene in recent seasons, with Shels providing seven and Peamount five of the 18 strong squad.
“Obviously we would like to see the squad spread around the country but at the moment the Metropolitan League is the strongest in the country. Those girls would have come through the league centre and were also involved with the U16 squad in Switzerland earlier this year. But the whole squad is a good group and they all get on well together.”
In addition to Lithuania, Ireland will also face Romania and the hosts Serbia over the course of the mini-tournament. The winners and runners-up of the group will go through to the Elite Phase while the third-place team may also advance depending on how their record against the first and second-placed teams stacks up against the other groups.
The recent two friendlies against Denmark which resulted in a 1-0 win and a 5-3 defeat gave Connell plenty to work on over the last few days but the squad have also been boosted by the return to fitness of Amanda McQuillan, Jamie Finn and Chloe Maloney.
The only change from the original panel named last week sees Lifford’s Aislinn Meaney drafted in for Lagan Harps’ Zoe McGlynn who has had to withdraw with a hamstring injury.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SQUAD: Amanda McQuillan (Shelbourne), Courtney Higgins (Shelbourne), Dearbhaile Beirne (Shelbourne), Jamie Finn (Shelbourne), Nadine Ryan (Shelbourne), Sophie Watters (Shelbourne), Fiona Donnelly (Shelbourne), Eleanor Ryan-Doyle (Peamount United), Niamh Farrelly (Peamount United), Lauryn O'Callaghan (Peamount United), Lucy McCartan (Peamount United), Danielle Murray (Peamount United), Niamh Prior (St Joseph's), Evelyn Daly (Lakewood), Saoirse Noonan (Douglas Hall), Sarah McKevitt (Peake Villa), Chloe Maloney (Connolly Celtic), Aislinn Meaney (LIfford).
FIXTURES
UEFA WU17 Championships Qualifying Round Group 4
Friday, October 17
Republic of Ireland v Lithuania, Gradski, Subotica (SRB), 3pm (Irish time)
Serbia v Romania, Backa, Subotica (SRB), 3pm (Irish time)
Sunday, October 19
Republic of Ireland v Romania, Backa, Subotica (SRB), 3pm (Irish time)
Lithuania v Serbia, Gradski, Subotica (SRB), 3pm (Irish time)
Wednesday, October 22
Romania v Lithuania, Gradski, Subotica (SRB), 3pm (Irish time)
Serbia v Republic of Ireland, Backa, Subotica (SRB), 3pm (Irish time)
Tactical Lineups
Republic of Ireland
Substitutes
- 16 Nadine Maher (G)
- 8 Niamh Farrelly
- 12 Lucy Mccartan
- 13 Sophie Watters
- 14 Fiona Donnolly
- 15 Danielle Murray
- 18 Aislinn Meaney
Coach
David Connell
Lithuania
Substitutes
- 1 Emilija Kaziul (G)
- 6 Kristina Murinaitė
- 9 Eimante Žalytė
- 11 Domantė Grėbliūnaitė
- 13 Paulina Narbutaitė
- 16 Justina Baltrūnaitė
- 18 Vismantė Čereškaitė
Coach
Robertas Klimavičius
Officials
- Referee Virginie Derouaux
- Assistant Referees Tina Tyteca
- UEFA Delegate Katriina Elovirta
- Assistant Referee Two Ivana Sargic
- Fourth Official Marina Živković
- Referee Observer Katriina Elovirta
Match Statistics
- Republic of Ireland
- Lithuania
Minute by Minute Commentary