Sean McCaffrey’s Republic of Ireland U19 side lifted the spirits of Irish soccer with a fine 2-1 victory over their rivals from Northern Ireland at Turners Cross, Cork on Sunday evening. The encounter, in UEFA Qualifying Group 6 for the Championship finals to be staged in Poland during July 2006 next, was played in the competitive and spirited fashion one would expect when these two teams meet. On a grey overcast evening, the pitch at Turners Cross looked resplendent although a little on the heavy side following several showers during the day.

The nucleus of the side from the north was provided from their successful U17 team of last season, which reached the final stages of the UEFA Championships for which, sadly, we failed to qualify. Managed by Mal Donaghy and with the 6 foot 6 inch tall Burnley striker, Kyle Lafferty in their ranks, the north presented a formidable challenge.

The opening exchanges were contested with great vigour and zest and notwithstanding the pace of the game, the play from Sean McCaffrey’s team was of an excellent quality. Operating in their familiar 4-4-2 system, the Republic passed the ball with crisp accuracy and looked threatening from the outset. The defence marshalled by powerful centre back Darren O’Dea alongside the composed Eddie Nolan was solid. Full backs Mark Keane and Darren Stapleton were untroubled and the Republic’s last line of defence, Darren Randolph, who has been a hugely impressive custodian throughout his international career to date, was relatively idle.

The Republic dominated the midfield area where Darron Gibson played the holding role with authority, breaking up all attempts by the north to create an attacking platform. Alongside Gibson, the Leeds united midfielder Ian Morris, currently on loan at Blackpool was having one of his finest games in a green shirt. With the silky skills of skipper, John Paul Kelly on the right and the blistering pace of Jonathan Hayes down the left, this quartet offered a beautifully balanced and creative unit. The team was fully complimented by the strike force of local Cork native, Billy Clarke from Ipswich Town and the talented Arsenal youngster, Anthony Stokes whose movement and pace gave their opponents a torrid time.

The Republic took the lead on ten minutes when Gibson broke up an attack from the north and laid the ball off to Morris on his left who struck a beautiful pass over the defence. Billy Clarke reacted like lightening to control the pass deftly and crash the ball into the net. Irish euphoria was quenched less than a minute later when Mark Keane from Bohemians sustained a badly broken leg following a very strong challenge from Northern Ireland midfielder, Michael O’Connor. The disconsolate Keane was replaced by Simon Madden of Leeds United.

The injury stoppage impacted upon the performance of the Republic for a short period and in the 25th minute, the north scored a well fashioned equaliser when a deep cross from the right was met at the back post by the unmarked Daryl Fordyce of Portsmouth who headed past the stranded Randolph. The Republic reacted to this setback in a positive manner and pressed forward in impressive fashion. Six minutes after conceding the equaliser, the Republic regained the lead when Morris curled a free kick from wide on the left into the penalty area and Stokes lost his marker and bravely got his head to the cross before the goalkeeper to score.

The Republic continued to dominate proceedings and created a number of scoring opportunities which included an effort from Stokes who cut inside his marker after receiving an excellent cross field pass but his shot was blocked and the rebound was driven wide by John Paul Kelly. A couple of minutes later, Stokes broke down the left and dove in a powerful cross, which was headed just past his own posts by a Northern Ireland defender. Shortly afterwards, substitute full back, Madden broke down the right to deliver a fine cross which was defended well by the north.

With three minutes of the first half remaining, Reading star Jonathan Hayes collected the ball inside his own half and displaying his trademark control at speed dashed into the Northern Ireland penalty area where he was upended. Hayes himself took the resultant penalty but his well placed shot was saved superbly by Northern Ireland goalkeeper and captain, Johnny Tuffey who tipped the ball onto the post, and the rebound was driven over from an acute angle by Stokes. The Republic had one further first half effort on goal when a shot from Morris went just wide.

The Republic maintained their dominance throughout the second half but despite having several attempts on goal, the team was unable to add to their tally. The pace and trickery of Clarke was proving nightmarish for the Northern Ireland defence and Stokes, revelling in his return to a central striking role was a constant threat. Stokes on two occasions and Morris went close with fine shots. Stokes was again thwarted by goalkeeper Tuffey, who, following his initial handling error, recovered to grasp the ball from the toes of the inrushing Arsenal man.

Sean McCaffrey introduced Scottish born Glasgow Celtic player James O’Brien for his debut when he replaced Hayes in the 80th minute and O’Brien’s team mate, Kerry man Diarmuid O’Carroll replaced Stokes with five minutes remaining. A one goal lead will always leave a side open to a sucker punch and the Republic’s excellent work on the night was almost undone in added time when first the giant Lafferty and then Reading’s Ryan Catney had good opportunities to score.

This was a pleasing performance by the Republic and manager Sean McCaffrey said afterwards than he believed the team would improve as the competition progresses. The Republic will now meet Moldova at St Colman’s Park, Cobh on Tuesday evening while earlier that afternoon, Northern Ireland will meet Italy, 2 nil victors over the Moldovans in their opening fixture, in Knockgriffin Park, Midleton.

Team:
Darren Randolph (Charlton Athletic);
Mark Keane (Bohemians), Edward Nolan (Blackburn Rovers), Darren O’Dea (Glasgow Celtic), Darren Stapleton (Reading;
John Paul Kelly (Bohemians), Darron Gibson (Manchester United), Ian Morris (Blackpool- Loan), Jonathan Hayes (Reading);
Anthony Stokes (Arsenal), Billy Clarke (Ipswich Town).

Substitutes: Simon Madden (Leeds United) for Keane (11 minutes), James O’Brien (Glasgow Celtic) for Hayes (80 minutes), Diarmuid O’Carroll (Glasgow Celtic) for Stokes (86 minutes).

Unused Substitutes: Stephen Henderson (Aston Villa), James Chambers (Shelbourne), Sean Kelly (Arsenal), Marc Mukendi (Derry City).