Dutch defeat adds to Ireland’s tale of woe

Ireland’s poor record at reaching for the Under-17 European Championship finals continues after this season’s contingent were eliminated on Saturday with a game to spare.

Only once in the past dozen years has an Irish team featured at the showpiece, a pattern not helped by UEFA’s decision in 2003 to half the number of finalists to eight nations. `Victory in their second of three elite qualifiers was a must for John Morling’s side in Eindhoven but they failed to manage it despite leading at the break.

A missed penalty in their 1-0 defeat to Serbia on Thursday had denied Ireland a point from their opener but they had no such problems from the spot this time as Dylan Hayes converted on the half hour after he’d been fouled inside the area by Riechedly Bazoer.