Georgia heap more misery on Ireland

THE Republic of Ireland Under 19 side were narrowly defeated in their European Elite qualification game against Georgia in Senec, Slovakia, losing 3-2 for the second time this week.

It was Ireland’s third defeat from three games and with qualification for the finals in Poland in July already out of the equation, it was all about avoiding last place against the Georgians.

But they got two early goals to really knock the stuffing out of an Irish side that had started brightly.

Skipper John Paul Kelly after 26 minutes and Adam Rooney seconds from the end were the Ireland goal scorers.

IRELAND: Darren Randolph (Charlton); Simon Madden (Leeds Utd), Eddie Nolan (Blackburn), Darren O’Dea (Celtic), Martin Reilly (unattached); James O’Brien (Celtic), Michael Spillane (Norwich), Ian Morris (Leeds Utd), John Paul Kelly (Bohemians); Adam Rooney (Stoke), Billy Clarke (Ipswich).

Subs: Anthony Stokes (Arsenal) for Clarke 60, Jonathan Hayes (Reading) for O’Brien 73, Stephen Gleeson (Wolves) for Spillane 77.