McCabe puts Irish on course for treble

Ireland 2 England 1

One had to sympathise with an England team that was the equal of Ireland on the night, but the winning goal was a tribute to Ireland’s persistence and their spirited play.

Now they are favourites to retain the championship for a third consecutive year with full points from their two matches against Scotland and England.

Northern Ireland will face them in the decisive match in Belfast and Ireland will be buoyed by the manner of this latest victory.

They took a long time to find a chink in a stern England defence and had Yan Klukowski been able to take advantage of a clear shooting opportunity in the opening minute of the second half, they would have faced a very difficult assignment.

Ireland always showed plenty of initiative despite the strength of England’s challenge and they jumped in front in the 57th minute when tall centre-forward Adam Rooney broke through the middle of England’s defence onto a pass from Ciaran Green.

He calmly slipped a shot under the body of the advancing goalkeeper Dan Barker.

England struggled to come to terms with this set-back but an equalising goal in the 71st minute gave them huge encouragement. Centre-forward John Dyer was played clear of the defence and he turned the ball past goalkeeper Michael Boyle.

England were unlucky not to go in front when Dyer played Darren Mullings into a shooting position and although his shot beat the goalkeeper, it was blocked by left-back Cornelius Gallagher and Douglas Loft drove the rebound narrowly over.

The notice board signalling added time sparked a remarkable drive by Ireland for a winning goal and it looked as if they had succeeded when Declan Carroll ran clear to shoot into the net.

He was whistled back for offside but Ireland came roaring back and in the second minute of added time Carroll again whipped in a shot which was turned away spectacularly by Barker.

He was left helpless, however, when the rebound fell kindly for McCabe to shoot into the empty net.

IRELAND: M Boyle (St Eunan’s Letterkenny); J Maleedy (Greendale CS Dublin), I Ryan (Terenure, Dublin), S Le Strange (Rathmines VEC), C Gallagher (Pobalscoil Gweedore); T Purcell (Scoil Mhuire, Johnstown), J Chambers (Drimnagh Castle), G Deegan (Chanel College, Dublin), C Green (St Eunan’s, Letterkenny); A Rooney (Palmerstown CS Dublin), D Carroll (Palmerstown CS Dublin).

Subs: S McCabe (St Mary’s, Dundalk) for Purcell and C McMahon (Portmarnock CS) for Ryan, both 79 mins, A Kearney (Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig) for Gallagher.

ENGLAND: D Barker; K Ingham, C Martin, S Bryce, C Rich; F Collins, Y Klukowski, D Mullings, D Loft; J Dyer, C Martin. Sub: C Whelpdale for C Martin (70 mins), T Smith for Loft (85).

Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).