Cork pair get chance but Turks triumph

Cork City duo Danny Morrissey and Jason Forde featured for Ireland’s U19s yesterday as they lost to Turkey in their final friendly before the UEFA elite stage qualifiers in May.

Striker Morrissey was one of seven changes to the side which drew 1-1 against the Turks on Tuesday, while Forde made his international debut at left-back as a second-half substitute.

The duo were amongst an experimental group of players aiming to break into Paul Doolin’s squad for the qualifiers from May 26-31, when they face mini-group hosts Portugal, as well as Ukraine and Israel for the one finals spot in Estonia in July.

Turkey dominated the first half and deservedly went ahead after 21 minutes when Ilker Sayan shot through a ruck of players to beat goalkeeper Alan Smith.

Despite a big improvement in the second half, with defenders Conor Qualter and Neil Byrne going close, the Irish were unable to work an equaliser.

IRELAND U19: A Smith (Rangers); C Horgan (Salthill Devon), C Qualter (Leeds), T Hoban (Watford), S. Kavanagh (Fulham); B Glasgow (QPR), J O’Sullivan (Blackburn Rovers, capt), F Sutherland (QPR); K McEvoy (Tottenham), D Morrissey (Cork City), C Smith (Watford).

Subs: N Byrne (Rochdale) for Hoban, M Barker (Bohemians) for Horgan, J Forde (Cork City) for Kavanagh (all 46), A O’Brien (Millwall) for Morrissey (56), G Smith (Southend) for C Smith (65).