Republic of Ireland Men’s Under-17s’ World Cup journey came to end in Doha after a 3-1 defeat to Switzerland in the Last 16.

All the goals came in the second with Adrien Llukes scoring shortly after half time followed by Sandro Wyss’ sweetly struck goal.

Vinnie Leonard pulled one back for Ireland but Switzerland secured their place in the quarter finals with a third from Mladen Mijalovic’s deflected effort.

Ireland had the games first clear cut chance in the 18^th minute when Ramon Martos’ deflected effort sent the goalkeeper the wrong way but just went past the post.

This was followed shortly after by Grady McDonnell seeing his attempt just flash past the post then Michael Noonan’s touch and strike just going over.

But in the second half the Swiss were on the front foot and they were ahead 12 minutes in the second half. Llukes driving effort at goal took a deflection that sent Alex Noonan the wrong way. Just after the hour mark it was 2-0. Wyss controlled a dropping ball turned and fired from edge of the area past Noonan.

Switzerland could have made it 3-0 but Kian McMahon’s goal-line clearance stopped the Swiss taking total control.

Instead it was Ireland to draw blood next. A corner caused confusion in the box, several Ireland players swung a boot at the ball but it fell to Leonard whose strike forced the ball over the less than 10 minutes to play.

However the game was over as a contest when four minutes later Mijalovic’s striker looped over Noonan having been deflected by Ryan Butler.

At the full-time whistle the Ireland players dropped to the ground, but they had become the first male Irish team to reach the Last 16 since the senior team in 2002.
 

Republic of Ireland FIFA Under-17 World Cup Results

Wednesday, November 5 | Panama 1-4 Ireland
Saturday, November 8 | Ireland 2-1 Uzbekistan
Tuesday, November 11 | Ireland 0-0 Paraguay
Friday, November 14 | Ireland 1-1 Canada (Ireland win 9-8 on penalties)
Tuesday, November 18 | Last 16 |  Switzerland 3-1 Ireland