The Republic of Ireland U18 team,comprised wholly of players who are currently based at home,will meet perennial rivals Switzerland for the Bronze Medal in the third place play-off at the European Youth Olympics in Lignano, Italy on Friday afternoon (8th July 2005). The game is scheduled to kick off at 14.30 hours local time(13.30 hours Irish time) when temperatures in the North Eastern Italian resort will be reaching their peak.

Ireland reached the play-off courtesy of their 1 nil victory over Finland in their final group fixture. The winning goal was scored by Crumlin United’s Eoin Doyle while his club team mate Alan Power failed to score from a penalty although he did successfully convert from the ‘spot’ in the opening Group fixture defeat to host nation and gold medal favourites Italy.

Manager, Noel O’Reilly expressed his satisfaction with the performance of his charges in the fixture with Italy, whose squad included a full compliment of professional players associated with Serie ‘A’ and ‘B’ clubs. The successful fixture against Finland also provided further opportunity for the young Irish players to gain international experience and to further their playing ambitions.

The Youth Academy at Crumlin United in Dublin will be justly proud of the contribution made thus far by their representatives with Ireland’s goals being scored by the emerging Adam Rooney, the aforementioned Alan Power and the winner in the Finland game from Eoin Doyle. The fourth Crumlin player in the squad is Mark Byrne.

Ireland go into the play-off match against the Swiss with a fair degree of confidence and will, in addition to the Crumlin lads, look to the Blackburn Rovers bound, Alan Judge who together with Stephen O’Shea of Tramore, Aiden Downes of Tolka Rovers and Belvedere’s John Connellan have all been part of Sean McCaffrey’s U17 squads of last season, to provide the impetus for victory.