Doolin down as Serbs win lottery

Republic of Ireland U19 boss Paul Doolin has expressed disappointment at the FAI’s failed bid to host an elite round game in the European Championship.

Doolin was at Uefa headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland yesterday where the draws for a number of underage tournaments were made.

Doolin’s side were drawn in Group 2 in their 2012-13 elite round and will face Serbia, Slovakia and Switzerland.

The mini-tournament will take place in Serbia from June 6 to 10 after their name was pulled out of a hat when agreement couldn’t be reached between the four nations on whether to play the games in Serbia or Ireland.

Doolin admitted: “I really wanted to have it at home but Serbia wanted to host it too and unfortunately their name was drawn out of the hat.”

The group winners will qualify for the finals in Lithuania from July 20 to August 1.

Ireland’s U17 side have been drawn in Group 2 of their elite round along with Serbia, Georgia and Austria, who will host the mini-tournament next year from March 25 to 30.

The group winners will qualify for the finals in Slovakia (May 5 to 17) with the top six teams going forward to the U17 World Cup in the UAE (October 17 to November 8).

Meanwhile in the draws for the 2013-14 European Championships, Ireland’s U17s were draw in Group 7 with England, hosts Armenia and newcomers Gibraltar (October 24 to 29).

The U19s are in Group 3 along with Bosnia, Azerbaijan and Sweden, who will host the six-day mini-tournament from October 10.