Republic of Ireland 1
New Zealand 1
Netherlands 1
Nigeria 0
Canada 2
Republic of Ireland 1 - 0 Azerbaijan
Ireland U21: Crucial 96th minute winner for King's men
A 96th minute goal from Shaun Donnellan gave Ireland a crucial win in their European Under-21 Championship Qualifying Round match in Tallaght Stadium.
Shaun Donnellan got on the end of Ryan Manning’s inviting free kick to scramble home a priceless winner for Noel King’s side.
Up until that point Ireland had been frustrated by the visitors, with Kamran Ibrahimov in fine form in the Azerbaijan goal.
In the opening half, Derry City attacker Ronan Curtis looked lively throughout and his strike on goal could only be parried by Kamran Ibrahimov in the Azeri goal. The onrushing Reece Grego-Cox was first to the breaking ball but Ibrahimov smoothered his close range effort.
Ireland came flying out of the blocks in the second period. Jake Mulraney was unlucky to see his appeals for a penalty waved away while Ryan Manning’s 25 yard free kick was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Ibrahimov.
Noel King’s side continued to press with Shaun Donnellan and Ronan Hale seeing their shots on goal block by last ditch defending.
However, following a free kick won after Olamide Shodipo was upended out wide, Manning delivered for Donnellan to send the Tallaght Stadium crowd wild.
Republic of Ireland: O’Hara; Whelan, Donnellan, Sweeney, Kane (Hale 82); Rice, Cullen, Manning; Mulraney (Shodipo 56), Grego-Cox, Curtis (Quigley 89).
Substitutes: Bossin (GK), Dimaio, Kinsella, Hale, Quigley, Delaney.
Azerbaijan: Ibrahimov; Krivotsyuk, Sarkarov, Mustafazade, Tashgin; Koekcue (Shahverdiyev 57), Nasirov (Muradov 64), Hajiyev, Aliyev, Madatov; Sheydaev.
Substitutes: Seyidakhmedov (GK), Shavverdiyev, Muradov, Azizov, Maharramli, Buludov.
Ireland U21: Rice and O'Hara return for Azerbaijan
Republic of Ireland Under 21s Head Coach Noel King is delighted to have Declan Rice available for when his side face Azerbaijan at Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday evening (KO 19.30).
Rice has returned to the U21 squad following his Man of the Match performance for the senior team against Turkey last Friday, along with goalkeeper Kieran O'Hara.
Striker Reece Grego-Cox, who scored a hat-trick against Israel last October, and winger Jake Mulraney, who scored against Norway in November, have also joined up with the squad following club commitments.
King said: "It’s a game we’re all looking forward to. We had a fantastic win over Iceland last week and that has really built the confidence ahead of this game.
“We’ve had a great campaign so far and we need to keep it up. The squad is looking good. It’s great to have Declan Rice back for the game as he has already proven during the campaign what a crucial member of the squad he is.
“We’ve also had the likes of Reece (Grego-Cox) and Jake (Mulraney) join the squad later in the week so we’re really confident going into the match."
The U21s will be looking to continue their impressive qualifying performance so far when they take on Azerbaijan at Tallaght Stadium in a crucial UEFA U21 European Championship qualifier.
Ireland go into the game third in the Group 5, level on points with second-placed Kosovo but with two games in hand. A win at Tallaght Stadium will put them within two points of leaders Germany, ahead of games against Kosovo and Germany in September.
King continued: "If I was a football person in Dublin tomorrow night, it is only a fiver and it is free for children, I’d be coming straight up.
"A chance to go and watch the next generation, the likes of Josh Cullen, Kieran O’Hara and Declan Rice, in a crucial qualifying match, I’d be straight up to Tallaght Stadium tomorrow.
"The team have had a great campaign so far and deserve the support. We’re right in the mix for qualification and need to make sure we get a crucial three points."
Tickets for the Azerbaijan game are priced at just €5 for adults. It is FREE for U16s, OAPs and FAI and Shamrock Rovers Season Ticket Holders and tickets are available via Ticketmaster and on the gate at Tallaght Stadium.
TEAM NEWS: Midfielder Jake Doyle Hayes has left the squad due to injury and goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has returned to his club following Kieran O'Hara's return from the senior squad.
Republic of Ireland U21 squad
Goalkeepers: Kieran O'Hara (Manchester United), Liam Bossin (Nottingham Forest)
Defenders: Danny Kane (Cork City), Ryan Sweeney (Stoke City - on loan at Bristol Rovers), Shaun Donnellan (Yeovil Town), Corey Whelan (Liverpool - on loan at Yeovil Town), Liam Kinsella (Walsall), Ryan Delaney (Rochdale AFC)
Midfielders: Josh Cullen (West Ham United), Rory Hale (Derry City), Declan Rice (West Ham United), Connor Dimaio (Unattached)
Forwards: Reece Grego-Cox (Woking FC), Ryan Manning (QPR), Ronan Curtis (Derry City), Joe Quigley (AFC Bournemouth - on loan at Boreham Wood), Jake Mulraney (Inverness CT), Olamide Shodipo (QPR - on loan at Colchester United), Ronan Hale (Birmingham City - on loan at Derry City)
Tactical Lineups
Republic of Ireland
Substitutes
- 16 Liam Bossin (G)
- 8 Connor Dimaio
- 12 Liam Kinsella
- 15 Ronan Hale
- 17 Joseph Quigley
- 18 Ryan Delaney
- 20 Olamide Shodipo
Coach
Noel King
Azerbaijan
Substitutes
- 1 Adbulla Seyidakhmedov (G)
- 7 Ehtiram Shahverdiyev
- 11 Rovlan Muradov
- 14 Zija Azizov
- 16 Rafael Maharramli
- 20 Omar Buludov
- 21 Ilkin Muradov
Coach
Rashad F. Sadigov
Officials
- Referee Filip Glova
- Assistant Referees Peter Kováč
- UEFA Delegate Léon Schelings
- Assistant Referee Two Jan Pozor
- Fourth Official Pavol Chmura
- Referee Observer Robert Sedlacek
Match Statistics
- Republic of Ireland
- Azerbaijan
Minute by Minute Commentary