Lenihan pens new Cork deal

Republic of Ireland U19 international Brian Lenihan has committed his future to Cork City after agreeing a new deal that will keep him at Leeside until the end of the 2014 season.

Cork City manager Tommy Dunne expressed his delight at the news and said he viewed Lenihan “as an integral part of the future of this club”.

Dunne said: “In fairness to Brian, he has done quite well since he has come in and he is now in the first team group. It has been quite a quick transition for him, and we are delighted that he wanted to sign and be a part of the future of this club. He is a young, ambitious player who is hungry to succeed in the game, and we see him as an integral part of the future of this club.”

Lenihan said: “I have enjoyed my time at Cork City so far and I am pleased to have agreed a new contract. Since coming to the club I have had a couple of chances in the first team and have also been called up to the international squad, so I am delighted to have signed.”

Jack Byrne, meanwhile, scored a hat-trick as the Republic of Ireland U17 team defeated Macedonia 4-1 in the second game of their UEFA Championships qualifying group in Skopje yesterday.

Tom Mohan’s side produced a disciplined and composed performance to move top of Group Ten on goal difference ahead of Sweden, who beat Romania 2-1 in the other game in the group.

Byrne was the hero of the hour with a hat-trick — including two first-half penalties — while Dan Cleary netting the other Irish goal. Tauljant Sulejmanov was the Macedonian goal-scorer with a 44th minute penalty.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Peter Burke; Robin Dempsey, Dan Cleary, Noe Baba (C), Bobby Moseley, Craig Donnellan, Dean O’Halloran, Cody Mulhall, Jack Byrne, Eoghan Stokes (Cory Galvin 61), Jake Mulraney (Stephen Confrey 73).

MACEDONIA: Aleksovski, Krivanjeva, Ilievski, Stojkovski, Sulejmanov, Shakiri, Nikolovski, Fidanovski (Muric 63), Zajkov (Kostadinov 63), Babunski, Djeljadini (Georgiev 41).