Ireland now face crucial Switzerland clash

Ireland 0 France 1: Ireland coach Dave Connell will rally his charges for Thursday’s make-or-break clash with Switzerland after a frustrating opening to the Uefa Women’s Under 17 European Championships yesterday.

In spite of some positive play, Dave Connell’s side were undone by a header from Emelyne Laurent and that leaves them needing a positive result against Switzerland on Thursday in their next Group B clash.

“We’re disappointed with the result. I thought the performance was very hardworking and there were some very good individual performances.

“As a team, we could do a bit better,” said Connell after the game.

“We’re not out of it. We’ll dust ourselves down, get the girls motivated, regroup and try to get a good result on Thursday and put ourselves back in the mix.”

The first Ireland team to feature in this tournament since Noel King’s outfit that finished runners-up in 2010, they set about getting the best possible start and enjoyed some nice patterns of play.

Led out by captain Jamie Finn, Ireland set up in a 4-3-3 system and set about winning the game with Eleanor Ryan Doyle and Saoirse Noonan going close to scoring, but they just couldn’t find that goal.

Clever Passing and movement from midfield duo Evelyn Daly and Roma McLaughlin allowed Ireland to stretch their opponents and they had opportunities to break in behind their defence.

Eleanor Ryan Doyle had an early chance but she flashed her shot wide.

France, kept goalkeeper Amanda McQuillan busy with their long-range shots, but the Raheny United stopper was equal to their efforts.

Two superb diving saves from McQuillan kept Ireland in the game until Laurent opened the scoring on 65 minutes when she got on the end of a long free-kick to head in.

Connell’s side tried to scrap their way back into the game, but couldn’t get a goal back and will now have to focus on beating Switzerland on Thursday to get back in contention.

Republic of Ireland:

McQuillan; Donnelly, Finn, Moloney, Higgins (McKevitt h-t); Daly, McLaughlin, Noonan; Meaney, Ryan Doyle (Payne 69), Nolan (Prior 52).

France:

Lebastard; Laplacette, Piga, Galera, Ollivier; Gavory, Ould Braham (Bodain 68); Laurent, Boutaleb (Ferocq 55), Katoto; Laurier (Ringenbach 47).

Referee:

Vivian Peeters (Netherlands).