Four Nations disappointment for Ireland

The Four Nations Tournament is an annual international competition for semi-professional footballers, contested by England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland. The tournament was hosted this year by England and took place at various venues in Sussex. The Irish squad was based in Brighton for the duration of the competition.

Ireland was managed by legendary Shelbourne full back Mick Neville who is now Director of Schoolboy Development and Under 21 manager with the club. Neville was assisted by Bray Wanderers FAI Cup winner and now senior coach, John Finnegan while Leo Tierney of Sligo Rovers was the goalkeeping coach. The eighteen man squad was comprised wholly of under 21 players from the Eircom League with seven teenagers among those selected.

The other three participants were represented by their full compliment of senior semi-professional players including some who had played at full championship level and had a considerable advantage over Ireland in terms of experience. As manager Neville stated ‘ the central aim of the under 21 league is player development and this tournament offers the players a great opportunity to test themselves against players from other countries.

Ireland faced the hosts in the opening game of the tournament, played at Priory Lane the home of Eastbourne Borough FC. The Irish team performed admirably against players drawn from the Conference and despite losing by 2 goals to nil could be justifyably proud of their efforts.

The second game was played at the Victor Gladwish Stadium in Worthing with Scotland being the opposition. The team again played with courage and conviction in defeat. Having fallen two goals behind, a goal from Cork City striker Jamie Nolan brought Ireland back into the game and they put the Scottish defence under extreme pressure in the latter stages without any reward.

In the final fixture, Ireland were well beaten by Wales, the eventual winners of the tournament. The rigours of the week caught up with Neville’s young charges and coupled with the controversial dismissal of UCD’s Kieran Harte after twenty minutes, proved a hurdle too far.

Republic of Ireland Squad: