Bright start in Sweden for U18s

THE Republic of Ireland U18s drew 1-1 against Slovakia in the opening game at the Falkenberg tournament in Sweden yesterday.

Ireland were the better side and deservedly earned the draw when Maymount’s Jamie Meehan finished off a well-worked set-piece involving Billy Clarke and Billy Dennehy.

“It was a great performance and we should have won the game. We created so many chances and were well on top,” said manager Noel O’Reilly.

“It was hard going because a lot of the players haven’t played a game yet this season while it was it also quite a new team. But, I’m a little disappointed we didn’t get the win because we played so well. There were a lot of positives in the match.”

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Randolph (Charlton Athletic); Chambers (Shelbourne), Reilly (Burnley), Castle (Reading), Synott (Ipswich Town); Lordan (Ipswich Town), Wilson (Portsmouth), Morris (Leeds United), Dennehy (Shelbourne); Hayes (Reading), Clarke (Ipswich Town). Subs: Stapleton (Reading), Cullen (Sligo Rovers), Meehan (Maymount), Kearney (Everton), Keohane (IMG Soccer Academy), McCabe (Dundalk).