England win to dent Irish trophy hopes

THE Republic of Ireland U23 side lost their opening game of the International Challenge Trophy when they went down to England in front of a crowd of 1,570 at the RSC last night to all but end their chances of progressing in the competition.

After giving the ball away during the early exchanges, Ireland did put a good move together that nearly yielded the breakthrough on 14 minutes when James Chambers linked up brilliantly with Conor Powell and when he put through Ronan Finn, the striker shot wide at the near post.

As the hosts began to get a foothold in the game, they had another half chance less than three minutes later when Chambers set up Ross Gaynor down the right channel but the in-rushing Paul Byrne just couldn’t get on the end of his cross.

Paul Doolin’s side were let off the hook on 26 minutes when Sean Newton whipped in the perfect cross from the left that found the head of the unmarked Andrew Fleming, however his towering header came crashing back off the crossbar.

But the English midfielder did have the ball in the net just seconds later.

Max Porter took advantage of a slip from Irish captain Stephen O’Donnell and when he played the ball in for Fleming, the midfielder drilled a low right-footed shot from 14 yards past goalkeeper Darren Quigley, who did manage to get a hand on the ball but just couldn’t keep it out.

Things could have got even worse for Ireland on 40 minutes when goalscorer Andrew Fleming picked out Max Porter with a super free kick, however the winger couldn’t direct his effort at the back post on target, with keeper Darren Quigley beaten.

Ireland looked more of threat going forward in the second half and Billy Dennehy went close to levelling the tie on 58 minutes.

But it was England that doubled their lead less than five minutes later when Fleming whipped in a right-wing corner that was flicked on by Tom Cadmore to the back post and Max Porter was on hand to fire a left-footed shot to the corner of the net from an acute close range angle.

The hosts pulled a goal back on 66 minutes when two second-half substitutes combined. A superb flicked pass from Gary McCabe found Paddy Madden and after beating his marker, he hammered a low left-footed shot past English netminder Dale Roberts.

Padraig Amond had a glorious chance to level the tie with just two minutes remaining when he outmuscled England centre half Tom Cadmore but with Paddy Madden up supporting the striker, Amond opted to go it alone but fired a left-footed shot inches wide from 14 yards when he should have squared it to Madden.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Darren Quigley, Stephen Mulcahy, Conor Powell, Gary Breen, Kenny Browne (Shaun Kelly [36), Stephen O’Donnell (Greg Bolger [64), Ross Gaynor (Gary McCabe [59), James Chambers, Paul Byrne (Paddy Madden [H/T), Ronan Finn (Padraig Amond [86) and Billy Dennehy

ENGLAND: Dale Roberts, Shane Densmore, Sean Newton, Tom Cadmore, Steven Gregory, Kyle McFadzean, Amari Morgan-Smith (Curtis Obeng [81), Andrew Fleming (Rossi Jarvis [74), Matthew Barnes-Homer, Sam Deering (Alex Rodman [90) and Max Porter (Ryan Hall [84)

Referee: Alan Kelly (Cork).