Ireland U17s suffer defeat to Polish counterparts

Republic of Ireland 1-3 Poland

The Republic of Ireland Under-17s were beaten by Poland last night in the first game of this week’s double-header friendly.

It took only two minutes for Ireland to create the first chance when Pat McEleney cut in from the left and squared the ball into the across to Paudie Quinn whose shot from the edge of the area whistled past the post.

Poland then began to assert pressure and signaled their intent in the 10th minute through Damien Dabrowski’s free-kick which clipped the crossbar.

The Irish were left stunned four minutes later as Wojciech Golla unleashed a volley from 30 yards that found the top corner of the net for the opening goal.

Sean McCaffrey’s side almost drew level within a minute when Sean Stewart raced through from McEleney’s pass and lobbed the ball over the advancing goalkeeper Martin Kompala.

The effort had the power but rebounded back off the crossbar and back into play.

Poland doubled their lead on 19 minutes after Ireland were caught out in defence and Pawel Wszolek slipped in undetected to slot the ball under ‘keeper Aaron McCarey from ten yards.

Faced with a two-goal deficit, Ireland responded positively in the remainder of the half – Stephen Folan’s free-kick denied by the bar and the McEleney forcing a good stop from Kompala on the stroke of the interval.

Folan, of Newcastle United, got into a good position to halve the arrears on the hour mark only to stab his half-volley over the bar from close-range.

But the visitors added a third goal after 66 minutes through a rehearsed corner which found it’s way to Marcin Kaminski on the edge of the penalty area and he picked his spot.

Ireland fought back again and managed to pull a goal back 14 minutes from time. John Egan’s flick-on in the box was met by fellow substitute Robbie Benson stole in at the back post to head home.

Republic of Ireland: Aaron McCarey (Monaghan United); Sean Skelly (Belvedere), Sean McGinty (Charlton Athletic), Anthony O’Connor (Blackburn Rovers), Eoghan Osbourne (Drogheda United); Sean Stewart (St. Kevin’s Boys), Danny Joyce (Reading), Paudie Quinn (Fulham), Stephen Folan (Newcastle United); Patrick McEleney (Foyle Harps), Selcuk Tidim (St Pauli, Germany).

Substitutes: John Egan (Greenwood) for Osbourne (24 mins), Stephen McDonnell (Celtic) for Quinn (33 mins), Robbie Benson (Athlone Town) for Tidim (h/t), Tom O’Halloran (Belvedere) for Folan (65 mins), Sean Brosnan (Castleisland) for McEleney (76 mins), Craig Walsh (Cherry Orchard) for Stewart (78 mins)

Poland: Kompala; Bres, Szostko, Czekaj, Kaminski; Golla, Lenart, Dabrowski, Chrapek; Olsak, Wszolek.

Substitutes: Cyfert for Czekaj (36 mins), Schikowski for Olsak (h/t), Kmiec for Lenart (70 mins) Szala for Wszolek (76 mins), Adamczyk for Golla (86 mins), Lisiecki for Chrapek (89 mins)

Referee: Richie Winter.