Ireland under-16s kick off Czech UEFA development tournament with 4-0 win over Belgium
Credit: Peter Fitzpatrick (ETPhotos)
A first-half brace from Thomastown United’s Ellen Molloy sent the Republic of Ireland under-16s on course to a comfortable 4-0 win over Belgium on Tuesday afternoon.
The Kilkenny youngster scored twice to send Ireland in at the break with a commanding league before Donegal pair Erin McLaughlin and Kerry Brown completed the rout.
Sue Ronan’s side faced the Red Devils in the first of three games in a UEFA development tournament in Prague this week, with USA and the hosts still to come.
Molloy opened the scoring in the 24th minute with a free kick before pouncing on a defensive mistake to make it 2-0 a minute before the break.
The second half saw Ireland make nine subs, using all 20 players per UEFA rules, and two of those subs would wrap up the scoring.
Sea Rovers’ McLaughlin added goal number three nine minutes into the second half before Brown, who has lined out for Sion Swifts’ senior side, scored the clincher in the 80th minute.
“I’m really delighted with the result,” former senior international manager Ronan told the association’s media team.
“We were under a lot of pressure in periods of the game, particularly the first 15 to 20 minutes. They looked very fast and fit and we knew we were up against a good side.
“But we stuck at it and defended very well and they didn’t manage to take advantage. Our goalkeeper, Emma Ring also made some excellent saves, she had a great game.
“From our solid defensive start, we grew in confidence and got two goals before the break.
“They were always dangerous going forward and we were out of position for much of the game, so we are really happy that we got the result we did, adding to those two first half goals with two more in the second half.
“It’s a quick turnaround now before the next game, which is in 48 hours, so we’ll move on to preparing for that straight away.”
Ireland face the United States on Thursday afternoon before finishing up with a morning game against the hosts the Czech Republic on Saturday.
Starting 11: Emma Ring (Peamount United), Shauna Brennan (Galway WFC) (pictured), Jessica Stapleton (Cherry Orchard), Della Doherty (Peamount United), Aoibheann Clancy (Limerick), Teegan Lynch (Sion Swifts), Ellen Molloy (Thomastown United), Rebecca Watkins (Peamount United), Emer O'Neill (Sligo Rovers), Aoife Horgan (Limerick), Anna Fahey (Galway WFC).
Substitutes: Rugile Askalnyte (Bohemians), Therese Kinnevey (Galway WFC), Chellene Trill (Galway WFC), Kate O'Dowd (Sligo Rovers), Muireann Devaney (Sligo Rovers), Erin McLaughlin (Sea Rovers), Zoe Leonard (Shelbourne), Hazel Cawley (Peamount United), Kerryanne Brown (Sion Swifts).
UEFA Women's Under-16 Development Tournament
May 21, Republic of Ireland 4-0 Belgium 13:30 CET, Pratelstvi Stadium
May 23, Republic of Ireland v USA 13:00 CET, Pratelstvi Stadium
May 25, Czech Republic v Republic of Ireland 11:00 CET, Rosického Stadium
