Ireland U19s win

The Republic of Ireland U19s got their UEFA Championship qualification hopes back on track last night with a 3-1 victory over Serbia and Montenegro in Knokke, Belgium.

Following Wednesday’s opening day 1-0 defeat by Belgium, Ireland needed a victory to keep their hopes alive and got their rewards thanks to goals by Gary Mulligan, Henry McStay and Mark Yeates.

Ireland started brightly and went in front in the 20th minute when Mulligan headed home a Yeates free kick, though Serbia and Montenegro were soon back on level terms through Milan Purovc.

But in the second half, Ireland made their dominance count with McStay putting Ireland in front in the 57th minute before Yeates made the result safe with an injury time goal after being put through one-on-one with the goalkeeper by a Willo Flood pass.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Murphy (Unattached); McStay (Leeds), Painter (Birmingham City), Deans (Unatt), J O’Brien (Bolton); Flood (Man City), Cregg (Arsenal), Dawson (Leicester), Yeates (Spurs); Quigley (Millwall), Mulligan (Wolves).

Sub: A O’Brien (Newcastle) for Quigley (83 mins).