Kearns blasts Irish to victory over Poles

DANIEL KEARNS grabbed his first international goal last night against Poland at Tolka Park as Ireland completed their preparations for next month’s UEFA U19 elite qualifiers with a victory.

Conor Henderson and Aaron Doran combined on 58 minutes to create the opening but West Ham striker Kearns still had work to do, turning inside the box and drilling low past Pawel Socha.

Poland should have been ahead on four minutes only for Salamon to blaze over from six yards but Ireland took control and Gavin Gunning was unlucky not to score when his header from Doran’s corner was hacked off the line by Mozdzen.

Once Ireland edged ahead early in the second half, they looked the more dangerous side and Doran was a yard wide with a low shot from 25 yards.

The Irish let the visitors back into the game during the final 10 minutes but both Blad and Zyro couldn’t profit by blasting their shots over the bar.

Sean McCaffrey’s side now head to the qualifiers in Ukraine from May 26-31 to battle it out with England, Bosnia-Herzegovina and the mini-group hosts for one qualifying berth into July’s finals.

IRELAND: G Hanley (Mervue United); P Ormsby (Shamrock Rovers), G Gunning (Rotherham), R Kiernan (Kilmarnock), S Timmins (Birmingham); A Doran (Blackburn), J Keohane (Wexford Youths), C Hourihane (Sunderland), D Kearns (West Ham); Jamil A (Barnsley), C Collins (MK Dons). Substitutions: R Murray (Ipswich) for Collins, C Henderson (Arsenal) for Keohane (both h/t), T McBride (Derry City) for Hourihane, G Burke (Bohs) for Kearns (both 65 mins), C Bolger (Leicester) for Kiernan, R Brennan (Drogheda) for Adam (both 76 mins), S McEleney (Derry City) for Timmons (84 mins)

Referee: Phil Caschera.