REPORT | Ireland MU19 4-0 Armenia MU19

REPORT | Ireland MU19 4-0 Armenia MU19

At St George's Park, the Republic of Ireland Under 19s completed their qualification series with a deserving 4-0 victory over Armenia.

Tom Mohan's team earned a confidence-boosting victory that will benefit them in their upcoming games this year. Goals from Andy Moran, Cian Hayes, Anselmo Garcia MacNulty and Evan Caffrey secured the all-important victory for the side.

Halfway through the first half, Ireland had their first opportunity. Both Glory Nzingo and Kian Corbally had their eyes set on Rafayel Manasyan's goal, but neither effort was successful in putting the Armenian goalkeeper to the test. Nzingo had a great chance to put Ireland ahead, but Manasyan made an excellent save to deny him. Sean Grehan was the next player to have a shot at goal, but he was unable to find the net.

Andy Moran scored the game's first goal just before halftime giving Ireland a deserved lead. Some good play in the build-up, with Cian Hayes starting the attack in the center of the park with an excellent first touch before moving forward to feed it to Moran for the finish.

Cian Hayes scored Ireland's second goal after some fantastic build-up play from Hayes with Ed McJannet, he played a clever one-two with Hayes, who slotted the ball in from the edge of the box in what was an excellent team goal for Mohan's side.

Second-half substitute Evan Caffrey had an opportunity to add to Ireland's tally when he took the ball around the keeper, but he fell at the crucial moment and couldn't apply the finishing touch, allowing the Armenian defence to clear the danger.

Ireland was to add a third as a corner from Hayes that was returned to him saw him drive the ball back into the area, where it found Caffrey, who sent it back across the face of the goal to Anselmo Garcia MacNulty, who headed it home from close range.

Ireland was to add a fourth as Alex Murphy sent a good ball into Evan Caffrey's path just before full time, and Caffrey held off the defender to turn and supply the well-placed finish.

Armenia: Manasyan (GK), Arakelyan, Smbatyan, Davtyan, Abrahamyan, Martirosyan (Hakobyan 73), Tigran Sargsyan (Edgar Piloyan 56), Narek Manukyan, Vahram Makhsudyan (Vladimir Muradyan 66), Spartak Hayrapetyan, Levon Vardanyan.

Republic of Ireland: Keeley (GK), Grehan, Roughan (Lawal 46), Garcia MacNulty, Adaramola, Adeeko (Henry-Francis 69), McJannet (Murphy 85), Corbally, Nzingo (Caffrey 61), Moran, Hayes.

Referee: Peter Kjaesgaard (Denmark)

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