Football Association of Ireland | REPORT | WU19

REPORT | WU19 | Third straight win

Apr 9 2024

The Ireland Women's Under 19s beat Croatia 3-0 to make it three wins in a row in their UEFA Women's Under-19 European Championship Qualifiers to finish top of Group A2.

Having already qualified for the finals tournament, Head Coach Dave Connell made eight changes to the starting line-up to ensure that every player in the squad earned a start going into this game against host nation Croatia.

Overall, Ireland scored eight goals, conceded once, recorded two clean sheets and collected nine points from three impressive performances to return to the EUROs for the first time in a decade.

Captain Kate Thompson opened the scoring on 23 minutes before Wexford forward Ceola Bergin doubled their lead on 37 minutes and put Ireland firmly in control.

Even with both Sophie Morrin and Freya Healy suspended, the Girls in Green looked strong and maintained their measured style of play that pushed the ball forward quickly.

As time ticked on, Aoife Murphy O'Connor netted a third goal on 85 minutes to round off the scoring and wrap up another deserved victory.

Ireland: Jayne Merren; Aoife Turner, Kate Thompson (Aoife Kelly 46), Mary Philips, Lia O'Leary; Jess Fitzgerald (Jodie Loughrey 46), Hannah Healy (Ellen Dolan 32); Rola Olusola (Meabh Russell 74), Hazel Donegan, Aoife Murphy O'Connor; Ceola Bergin (Joy Ralph 79).

FIXTURES
Wednesday, April 3 | Ireland 4-1 Iceland, Sv. Josip Radnik, Sesvete
Saturday, April 6 | Austria 0-1 Ireland, Sv. Josip Radnik, Sesvete
Tuesday, April 9 | Croatia 0-3 Ireland, Branko Čavlović-Čavlek, Karlovac