Ireland draw with Serbia but exit U17 Championship
Credit:
Republic of Ireland U17s 1 Serbia 1
The Republic of Ireland U17 team unfortunately exited the UEFA Championships today after being held to a 1-1 draw by Serbia in their final Group Two match at WFV Hirschstetten, Vienna.
Austria – who Ireland beat on opening day – ended up topping the group as a result of a 2-1 win over Georgia in their game.
Tom Mohan’s side went ahead through a Jack Byrne penalty in the 50th minute after Dean O'Halloran was fouled in the penalty area by Srdjan Babi?, who was dismissed in the same incident.
Unfortunately the ten-man Serbs levelled through Nemanja Radonji? just five minutes later after he connected with an overhead kick.
Although the Irish pressed hard for a winner – which would have been enough to secure a place in the finals in Slovakia –it just would not come for Mohan’s side.
Ireland had dominated the first half but failed to break the deadlock until Byrne’s spot-kick. Byrne could have snatched the winner in the last minute but his shot was deflected just wide with the keeper beaten while Bobby Moseley had also produced another impressive striker that was blocked.
In injury-time Byrne sent in a brilliant ball across the goal mouth but substitute Reece Grego-Cox just failed to connect at the back post. Byrne, wingers Dean O’Halloran and Jake Mulraney all impressed for Ireland while Moseley had a top notch game in defence.
Republic Of Ireland: Harry Doherty, Ryan Rainey, Bobby Moseley, Robin Dempsey, Daniel Cleary, Dean O'Halloran, Cody Mulhall, Jake Mulraney, Connor Dimaio, Eoghan Stokes (Reece Grego-Cox 54), Jack Byrne.
Serbia: Ostoji?, Brajovi?, Gaji?, Stevanovi?, Babi?, Radonji?, Panti?, Beli?, Živkovi?, Ili?i? (Mihajlovi? 71), Luki?.
Referee: Marco Ferreira (POR)
UEFA U-17 European Championships 2012-13 Elite Round – Group 2
March 25: Republic of Ireland 1 Austria 0, Sportzentrum Schwechat-Ranners, Schwechat-Rannersdorf.
March 27: Republic of Ireland 0 Georgia 3, WFV Hirschstetten, Vienna.
March 30: Republic of Ireland 1 Serbia 1, WFV Hirschstetten, Vienna.
