Republic of Ireland 1
New Zealand 1
Netherlands 1
Nigeria 0
Canada 2
Israel 3 - 1 Republic of Ireland
Ireland U21: Qualification hopes end in Israel with defeat
Goals from Gavriel Kanichowsky, Yarden Mordehai Cohen and Jonathan Cohen sealed the victory for the home side despite Ronan Hale's fantastic second-half equaliser.
Ireland struggled to get going in the first-half and went behind with just 14 minutes on the clock. Israel's Neta Levi dug out a low cross from the left which was only half-cleared and Kanichowsky fired home.
Despite a poor first-half showing, Ireland should have gone in level at the break. In the 36th minute, Jordan Shipley's right-sided corner found an unmarked Ryan Sweeney but he placed his header narrowly wide of the left-hand post.
Ireland picked up considerably in the second-half as Shipley fired a 25-yard shot narrowly wide in the 50th minute and four minutes later, Reece Grego-Cox headed wide as Noel King's side looked for the equaliser.
Derry City forward Ronan Hale was introduced and had an immediate impact. He thought he had equalised for Ireland when he bundled home Ronan Curtis' cross but incredibly, the referee ruled it out for handball. However, from the resulting kick-out from goalkeeper Assaf Tzur, Hale collected the poor ball and arrowed his shot past the keeper to equalise in the 63rd minute.
Ireland were in the ascendency and could have took the lead with 20 minutes remaining when Grego-Cox found Curtis on the left but his shot was well blocked.
The away side continued to charge forward looking for the winner but were dealt a huge blow when Israel retook the lead in unfortunate circumstances. Mordehai Cohen's right-sided cross somehow found it's way past everyone to go straight in with 14 minutes remaining.
In the six additional minutes, Danny Kane's close-range header was well saved before Sweeney's header from a Jake Mulraney cross was also held. Israel completed the scoring in the final minute on the break as Cohen slid the ball past goalkeeper Kieran O'Hara.
"It was a strange game. We weren't really at it in the first-half and they've created a number of chances. Despite that, we should go in level if we take our chances," said U21 Head Coach Noel King.
"I thought we were much better in the second-half and we looked like we were the team which would go on to win the game. It's a fantastic finish from Ronan who did really well when he came on and we continued to create chances.
"It's a really unfortunate goal to concede at a crucial time. It's a tough defeat for the players to take but they'll learn from this experience as we look towards the Germany on Tuesday."
Teams
Israel: Assaf Tzur (GK), Yosef Raz Meir, Yarden Mordehai Cohen, Idan Nachmias (C), Amit Bitton, Neta Lavi, Yonatan Cohen, Shon Zalman Weissman, Or Dasa, Gavriel Kanichowsky (Maxim Plakushchenko 74), Moti Barshazky (Shay Golan 84).
Republic of Ireland: Kieran O'Hara (GK), Corey Whelan, Danny Kane, Ryan Delaney (Jamie McGrath 84), Ryan Sweeney, Liam Kinsella, Josh Cullen (C), Harry Charsley, Jordan Shipley (Ronan Hale 58), Reece Grego-Cox (Jake Mulraney 84), Ronan Curtis.
Ireland U21: Hale believes Israel qualifier is 'a must win'
Republic of Ireland Under 21 international Ronan Hale has described tomorrow's UEFA U21 European Championships qualifier against Israel as 'a must win'.
Noel King's side are in Akko, Israel ahead of the qualifier at the Akko Municipal, with kick-off at 3pm (5pm local time).
Ireland go into their penultimate qualifier in third position in Group Five, level on points with second-placed Norway knowing they must win against Israel to keep any qualifying chances alive ahead of the final qualifier of the campaign in Germany.
"We know what we have to do, it's a must win and that's got to be the focus," said 20-year old Hale.
"We've done really well to get ourselves into this position and we need to keep it up until the very last game. It's going to be tough as they're different conditions to what we're used to but we can be confident.
"The lads are brilliant and we're in good shape. Training has been at a really high standard and we beat them earlier in the campaign so we're positive."
Ryan Manning picked up an injury in Rotherham's defeat against Birmingham last Saturday so he's been ruled out of the two final qualifiers. Coventry City's Jordan Shipley could make his international debut whilst Cork City's Sean McLoughlin linked up with the squad on Tuesday after Monday's FAI Cup semi-final.
Hale has scored 13 goals in all competitions this season for SSE Airtricity League Premier Division side Derry City and he believes his loan move has helped him in his development.
"It's been massive for me. It's probably the reason I'm standing here and part of the squad," Hale commented.
"I've really enjoyed it. I felt it was really important to get the loan move away from Birmingham to play senior football and I think I've got better as a result.
"I want to keep getting better so that I can continue to play international football. There is a lot more I can do for the U21s and the dream is obviously to progress to the senior level."
Republic of Ireland U21 squad v Israel/Germany
Goalkeepers: Kieran O'Hara (Manchester United, loan Macclesfield Town), Liam Bossin (Nottingham Forest).
Defenders: Danny Kane (Cork City, loan AFC Flyde), Corey Whelan (Liverpool, loan Crewe Alexandra), Ryan Sweeney (Stoke City, loan Mansfield Town), Ryan Delaney (Rochdale), Jimmy Dunne (Burnley, loan Hearts), Sean McLaughlin (Cork City), Shaun Donnellan (Yeovil Town)*.
Midfielders: Josh Cullen (West Ham United, loan Charlton Athletic), Harry Charsley (Everton), Liam Kinsella (Walsall), Jordan Shipley (Coventry City), Jamie McGrath (Dundalk).
Attackers: Reece Grego-Cox (Crawley Town), Ronan Hale (Birmingham City, loan Derry City), Joe Quigley (Maidstone United), Jake Mulraney (Hearts), Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth).
*Suspended for Israel fixture.
UEFA U21 European Championships Qualifying - Group Five Fixtures
11/10 - Israel v Republic of Ireland, 3pm (5pm local time), Akko Municipal, Akko.
16/10 - Germany v Republic of Ireland, 5.15pm (6.15pm local time), Albstadion, Heidenheim.
Tactical Lineups
Israel
Substitutes
- 23 Haviv Ohayon (G)
- 7 Maxim Plakushchenko
- 8 Mohammad Abu Fani
- 13 Yahav Gurfinkel
- 15 Ofri Arad
- 16 Shay Golan
- 22 Yonas Malede
Coach
Marko Balbul
Republic of Ireland
Substitutes
- 16 Liam Bossin (G)
- 12 Joseph Quigley
- 13 Jamie McGrath
- 14 Ronan Hale
- 15 Sean Mcloughlin
- 17 Jake Mulraney
- 18 James Dunne
Coach
Noel King
Officials
- Referee Lawrence Visser
- Assistant Referees Karel De Rocker
- UEFA Delegate Lennart Vestervall
- Assistant Referee Two Rien Vanyzere
- Fourth Official Wesley Alen
- Referee Observer Laurent Duhamel
Match Statistics
- Israel
- Republic of Ireland
Minute by Minute Commentary