A brace of goals from Rockmount's Nathan Broderick and one from fellow clubman Luke Casey eased Region 1 to a comfortable victory over their Region 2 rivals in Saturday afternoon's UEFA Regions Play-Off Match at the AUL Complex, Clonshaugh.

Match Report | Region One 3 Region Two 0

The winners earned the right to represent the Football Association of Ireland in the UEFA Regions Cup qualifying campaign which is scheduled to take place in October in Bulgaria where the FAI side will be joined by teams from Romania and San Marino.

Saturday's play-off game is a UEFA competition requirement and the opening period saw both sides struggle to impose themselves with opportunities at a premium in front of goal.

There was little to choose between both sets of players as they grew into the occasion. In front of a decent sized attendance they produced an entertaining 90 minutes of action on a heavy but firm pitch.

The best early chance fell to Jimmy Carr of St Michael's on 15 minutes when he rounded Demer Sterio in the Region 2 goal but Scott Osborne got back to make a brilliant goal line clearance.

But there was nothing Sterio could do on 36 minutes when Rockmount striker Broderick pivoted on a ball just outside the penalty area to half-volley to the roof of the net for a sweet finish.

The goal helped settle Region 1 who were coached by Ross Carrig on the day and Stephen Chambers in the middle of the park was impressive with his creativity and range of passing. Across the back four Jack McMullan and Adam Crowley were very solid while fullbacks Chris Smith and Glen Daly looked to get forward at every opportunity.

For Region 2, coached by James Quinn, Alex Kelly, Scott Osborne and Conor Foley caught the eye but could make little impression on Brendan O'Connell's goal.
Both sides were evenly matched for long periods but on the restart Region 1 should have added to the scoreline on 47. Broderick tried his luck from 25 yards in the 47th minute but his effort cannoned back off the upright and away to safety.

Region 1 were not to be denied however and on 52 minutes, after good work by Jimmy Carr down the right flank, the ball was worked to Broderick. His goal bound shot took a deflection off a defender and Casey, well positioned, from five yards out stuck out a trailing foot and the ball deflected past Sterio to the back of the net.

Several substitutions from both sides injected some fresh legs and pace into the game and Sam Burgess and Eoin Hayes looked lively on their arrival for Region 1.
The insurance goal came from Broderick in the 74th minute with Casey providing the cross into the box and with Sterio and a couple of defenders converging on the ball, the Rockmount AFC frontman reacted quickest to poke the ball home from close in.

Substitute Liam Brady flashed a shot just wide of the post for Region 1 while Region 2 did have a late opportunity for a consolation goal when Conor Foley, from an acute angle, got a rasping shot away but skipper O'Connell blocked the ball away for a fruitless corner.

The winning squad will meet for a training session on Saturday with an attractive fixture against Jim Crawford's FAI Under 21s at Whitehall on Tuesday, March 22 next up where there is a 7.30pm kick-off.

Region 1: Brendan O’Connell (Rockmount), Chris Smith (St. Michael’s Tipperary), Glen Daly (Malahide Utd), Jack McMullen (Home Farm), Adam Crowley (Rockmount AFC), AJ O’Connor (Fairview Rangers), Jimmy Carr (St. Michael’s AFC), Stephen Chambers (Killester Donnycarney FC), Nathan Brodrick (Rockmount AFC), Jimmy McHugh (Oliver Bond Celtic FC), Luke Casey (Rockmount AFC)
Subs: Eoin Hayes (Newmarket Celtic), Sam Burgess (Killester Donnycarney FC), Eoin Murphy (Rockmount AFC), Aaron Humphries (Kilbarrack Utd), Liam Brady (St. Mochta’s), Shane Ryan (St. Michael’s AFC), Gary Cunningham (Westport United), Martin O’Sullivan (Blarney United), Sean Rodgers (Killester Donnycarney)

Region 2: Demer Sterio (Maynooth University Town FC), Ricky Quinn (Wicklow Rovers), Alex Kelly (Maynooth University Town FC), Scott Osborne (Portlaoise AFC), Peter Finnegan (Wicklow Rovers), Jack O'Connor (Maynooth University Town FC), Mark Colgan (Maynooth University Town FC), Lee Salter (Crettyard Utd), Conor Foley (Maynooth University Town FC), Wayne Sparling (Killarney Celtic).
Subs: Cian Dowling (New Oak Boys), Dylan Doonah (Killarney Athletic), David O'Shea (New Oak Boys), Evan McEvoy (Portlaoise FC), Jack Brady (Crettyard Utd), Colm Poole, Ryan Kelliher (Killarney Celtic), Colm Poole (Portlaoise FC), Mick Delaney (Wicklow Rovers), Lee Downing (Killarney Celtic), Jake Corrigan (Maynooth University Town FC).