REPORT | MU17 | Belgium 0-1 Ireland
William Martin of Odense Boldklub scored the game’s only goal in the 10th minute following an excellently worked team goal that opened up the hosts.
The same teams had played out a stalemate on Saturday but it would be Ireland who left with the victory in a tightly fought affair between the sides.
The game winning play started with goalkeeper Oisin Cooney. He played it out to captain Luca Cailloce, who shifted it to his defensive teammate Kaylem Harnett. Wexford’s Harnett slid a pass down the right to Jaden Umeh whose ball was swept home by Martin for the opener.
It was almost 2-0 to the young Boys in Green when Luke O’Donnell stung the finger tips of Theo Radelet when he struck a sweet free-kick that was matched well by the Belgium stopper.
Ireland continued to apply the pressure and it took a last-ditch tackle from Nunzio Ongena-Engwanda to deny Jaden Umeh from running in on goal and making it 2-0 before half-time.
In the second half there were multiple changes from both teams with the game becoming a disjointed affair. But for Cooney it could have been 1-1 but the Finn Harpers goalkeeper was able to deny a goalbound-effort to palm it away from goal.
With eight minute remaining, Ireland should have had a second. Matthew Moore found Ike Orazi, he drove at the end line and pulled it back for Mason Melia but the ball evading him for what would have been an easy tap in.
The game was the final part of preparation for O’Brien’s team who are in U17 EURO qualification action next month when they take on Armenia, Iceland and Switzerland at Turner’s Cross in Cork.
Ireland: Cooney, Harnett (McCarthy, 46’), Cailloce (C) (McGlinchey, 46’), Roche, Coffey, Finneran (M. Moore, 58’) , O’Donnell (S. Moore, 63’), O’Sullivan (Murray 58’) , Fitzgerald (Orazi 58), Umeh (Ocho Moloney 58’), Martin (Melia, 58’)
Belgium: Radelet, Ongena-Engwanda, Nibombe (C), Predhomme, Masanka, Bafdili, Karetsas, Trann, Mamady, Reumers, Da Costa
International Friendly Fixtures (Irish Standard Time)
Saturday, September 9 | Friendly | Belgium 0-0 Ireland
Monday, September 11 | Friendly | Belgium 0-1 Ireland
Republic of Ireland Men’s Under-17s Squad
Goalkeepers: Joe Collins (Bohemians), Oisin Cooney (Finn Harps)
Defenders: Luca Cailloce (Bohemians), Fiachra Coffey (Bohemians), Kaylem Harnett (Wexford), Taylor McCarthy (Shelbourne), Harry McGlinchey (Chelsea), James Roche (Shamrock Rovers)
Midfielders: Rory Finneran (Blackburn Rovers), Matthew Moore (Hoffenheim), Sean Moore (Shamrock Rovers), Luke O’Donnell (Derry City), Cathal O’Sullivan (Cork City), Aaron Ochoa Moloney (Malaga)
Forwards: Kyle Fitzgerald (Galway United), William Martin (Odense Boldklub), Mason Melia (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Matthew Murray (Cork City), Ike Orazi (Stade de Reims), Jaden Umeh (Cork City)