Republic of Ireland 2 - 1 Poland | 2019 - Boys Under 15 | 999946195

Under-15 Boys Friendlies International Friendly | Eamonn Deacy Park, Galway

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Republic of Ireland 2 - 1 Poland

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Ireland U15 beat Poland 2-1 in Galway

The Republic of Ireland Under-15 team continued their impressive start to the season with a 2-1 friendly win over Poland at Eamonn Deacy Park.

19th Nov 2019

Goals from Shamrock Rovers’ Kevin Zefi and Cork City defender Cathal Heffernan secured the victory for Jason Donohue’s side on a chilly night in Galway.

In the first of a double-header between the two teams, it was the hosts who started the better. Captain James McManus came close to breaking the deadlock for Ireland but it was a Zefi wonder goal on 32 minutes that opened the scoring.

The forward collected the ball inside his own half and played a one-two with Caden McLaughlin. Zefi closed in on the angle of the area, skipped past a defender, feinted to shoot to beat another then cooly rolled the ball past Jan Sobczuk in the Polish goal

The start to the second half was a much tighter affair with Poland sitting deep and looking to press Ireland.

But on the 50th minute came what proved to be the winning goal. Luke O’Brien’s inswinging free-kick wasn’t cleared properly by the Polish defence. Sam Curtis headed the ball back across goal for Heffernan to nod in from close range.

The two-goal cushion only lasted two minutes when the visitors struck back through Marcel Szymanski to make the contest a much nervier affair.

Alex Nolan of Cabinteely and Rocco Vata of Celtic were introduced later on in the game for their international debuts but the home side managed to see out the contest to record their fourth win in four games.

Ireland: Walsh; O’Brien, Curtis, Heffernan, Cowper Gray; Ferizaj (Nolan 64), McManus (C) (Barrett 69), Murphy (Vata 64); Zefi, McLaughlin (Nugent 64), Tetteh (Whitmarsh-O’Brien 52).

Fixture
Thursday, November 21: Ireland v Poland, KO 12pm, Eamonn Deacy Park, Galway United

Ireland U15: Donohue names 19-player squad for Poland friendlies

After winning the UEFA Development Tournament in Mayo last month the Republic of Ireland Under-15 team are back in action with two fixtures against Poland in Galway next week.

16th Nov 2019

Ireland go into the friendly double-header (both at Eamonn Deacy Park) in high confidence with three wins out of three in the tournament, scoring 15 goals on the way.

Donohue has named an 19-player squad for the friendlies in Galway with Cabinteely’s Alex Nolan receiving a first international call up.

Donohue said: “We had the benefit of being together for the UEFA Development Tournament and that has helped us knit as a group. Poland have also had their own tournament so there would have been a lot of contact time between themselves so make no mistake this will be two tough encounters for our boys.

“We have an exciting team that loves to attack and with that in mind we’re going out there to win each of our games.

"I’m delighted to bring this team to Galway, the Galway Football Association have been brilliant with us and the lads will have an opportunity to play at a great stadium and on arguably the best pitch in the country.”

Republic of Ireland squad

Goalkeepers: Shay O’Leary (Shamrock Rovers), Conor Walsh (Mayo SL)

Defenders: Finn Cowper Gray (Klub Kildare), Luke O’Brien (Bray Wanderers), Tristan Hughes (Shamrock Rovers), Daniel Kelly (Mayo SL), Sam Curtis (Shamrock Rovers) Cathal Heffernan (Cork City)

Midfielders: Justin Ferizaj (Shamrock Rovers), Cian Barrett (Shamrock Rovers), Adam Murphy (Belvedere), Joe O’Brien Whitmarsh (Cork City), James McManus (St Kevin’s Boys / Bohemians) Rocco Vata (Celtic)

Forwards: Gideon Tetteh (Shamrock Rovers), Caden McLaughlin (Malaga CF), Adam Nugent (Mayo SL), Kevin Zeffi (Shamrock Rovers), Alex Nolan (Cabinteely)

Fixtures
Tuesday, November 19: Ireland v Poland, KO 7.00pm, Eamonn Deacy Park, Galway United
Thursday, November 21: Ireland v Poland, KO 12pm, Eamonn Deacy Park, Galway United