UEFA European U21 Championships Qualifier Report: Republic of Ireland 1 - 0 Armenia

Brendan Graham reports from Tallaght Stadium

A first-half Troy Parrott goal was enough to see Ireland record a narrow but convincing 1-0 victory against Armenia at Tallaght Stadium to make it six points from six in Group 1.

Stephen Kenny’s side had a convincing opening night win in this European Qualifying group back in March with a convincing 3-0 victory over Luxembourg giving this talented group of players a perfect start to the campaign.

Key players from that game, Neil Farrugia and Connor Ronan, missed out this evening through injury as well as Michael Obafemi.

It was still a very exciting starting eleven that Kenny started with, however, as he looked to make it two wins from two in the group.

Interestingly, the last time the Armenian under-21 side played in Dublin was in 2010 when they recorded a 2-1 victory over a Don Given’s led Ireland team.

The Ireland team that included Seamus Coleman, Alan Judge and David Meyler.

Adam Idah led the line up front on his own from the start with the exciting trio of Troy Parrott, Aaron Connolly and Gavin Kilkenny just behind.

The familiar back four of Leahy, O’Shea, Masterson and O’Connor once again lined up in front of goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.

Ireland started the game on the front foot straight from kick-off and it remained that way for the majority of the opening 45 minutes.

Each of the Ireland players had a solid opening half to the game but it was Aaron Connolly who shone brightest early on with some Duffer-esque runs down the left wing.

The Brighton striker repeatedly leaving the helpless Erjanik Ghubasaryan with no option but to foul him or do his best to catch him as he roved towards goal with the ball at his feet.

On the right-,hand side Lee O’Connor and Gavin Kilkenny linked up very well with Kilkenny drilling plenty of early crosses into the box as the home side looked for the breakthrough.

Idah had some fantastic chances as the first half progressed and could have opened the scoring after 18 minutes.

A brilliant run from Connolly past Ghubasaryan led to a cross to the feet of Idah but, at full stretch, he couldn’t get a touch on the ball with Aslanyan coming out to collect.

Two minutes later and it was Parrott who went close, Connolly again the architect with another weaving run down the left before advancing towards goal and smartly finding Parrott unmarked on the edge of the box.

Parrott slid the ball onto his right foot before unleashing a shot towards goal but it was always rising and ended up well wide of the post.

Idah again went close minutes later with a drilled Kilkenny cross from the right just glancing over the striker and across the box away from danger.

Ireland eventually broke the deadlock on 30 minutes through Troy Parrott and it was no less than the home side deserved.

Another trademark roving run from Connolly saw the Brighton forward advance into the box before again smartly finding Parrott in space on the D.

Parrott wound up before slotting the ball calmly past Aslanyan in the Armenian goal before running to the jubilant home supporters in the stand to celebrate.

Ireland finished the remainder of the half strongly with further chances coming the way of Connolly and Molumby but went in at the break with a narrow 1-0 lead.

The home side were slow enough to get going in the early stages of the second half but were still the dominant side by far on the field of play.  

Armenia had a chance to get themselves back into the game eight minutes into the second half in an effort that was completely against the run of play.

Rudik Mkrtchyan attempted a cheeky shot low towards the bottom corner with Kelleher happy to watch it go inches just past the post.

Ireland didn’t wait long to regain control of the game and minutes after the chance for the visitors Parrott should have had his second and Ireland’s second as well.

Idah was quick to make the most of a sloppy pass out from the back by Sevak Aslanyan in the Armenian goal.

The striker picked the ball up on the edge of the box and played a perfectly weighted through ball into the path of Parrott to his right.

Parrott took his shot well and drilled it powerfully towards the back post but was unlucky when the ball cannoned back off the woodwork and back into play, and Idah blazed the follow-up over the bar.

Ireland quickly found their rhythm again from the hour mark onwards with plenty of possession in midfield but found chances close to goal hard to come by as the game progressed.

Further chances fell the way of Connolly and Parrott before Stephen Kenny began to make changes and introduce fresh legs from the bench.

Jonathan Afolabi, Danny Mandroiu, Zach Elbouzedi and Jason Knight were brought on as Ireland tried to close out the game but they were unable to find that second goal with the game finishing 1-0 to Ireland on the night.

In the other game in the group this evening Iceland beat Luxembourg 3-0 with tonight’s results leaving Ireland top of the group with maximum points from their opening two games.

Republic of Ireland: Caoimhin Kelleher; Lee O’Connor, Darragh Leahy, Conor Masterson, Dara O’Shea; Conor Coventry, Jayson Molumby, Aaron Connolly (Jason Knight 88), Troy Parrott (Jonathan Afolabi 80), Gavin Kilkenny (Zachary Elbouzedi 65); Adam Idah (Danny Mandroiu 65).

Subs not used: Gavin Bazunu, Jake Doyle-Hayes, Jack Taylor, Liam Scales, Danny McNamara.

Booked:  Conor Coventry (79).

Armenia: Sevak Aslanyan; Erjanik Ghubasaryan, Albert Khachumyan, Hovhannes Nazaryan, Edgar Grigoryan; Rudik Mkrtchyan, Artur Nadiryan (Erik Vardanyan 80), Karen Melkonyan, Vahan Bichakhchyan ( Aram Khamoyan 75), Armen Nahapetyan (Arlen Tsaturyan 80); German Kurbashyan (Edgar Movsesyan 68).

Subs not used: Mark Grigoryan, Grigorii Matevosian, Arman Mkrtchyan, Artur Khachatryan, Armen Asilyan.

Booked: Arlen Tsaturyan (86).

Referee: Fyodor Zammit (Malta).

Attendance: 3,658 (official).

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Aaron Connolly (Republic of Ireland).