2013 UEFA EUROPEAN UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING: Liechtenstein 1 Rep OF Ireland 4JAMES COLLINS notched a hat-trick to help the Republic of Ireland overcome a tricky Uefa qualifying assignment in Eschen, Liechtenstein yesterday.
Ireland were behind for 13 minutes of the first half. But Shrewsbury Town striker Collins was instrumental on his first competitive start under King.
Liechtenstein stunned the visitors with a 14th-minute opener, Niklas Kieber firing a low drive past Ian McLoughlin.
But the home side conceded four times in 11 minutes. Robbie Brady’s corner was headed home by Collins at the near post for the equaliser on 27 minutes.
Senior cap Greg Cunningham, on his under-21 debut, crossed after 30 minutes and Collins dived to head past Mario Tichy. Collins made the most of further slack marking three minutes later to complete his hat-trick by diverting an Aidan White cross into the net.
Ireland made it 4-1 after 39 minutes when Shane Duffy headed home from another Brady corner.
REP OF IRELAND(4-4-1-1): McLoughlin (MK Dons); Connolly (Bolton), Canavan (Scunthorpe), Kiernan (Wigan), Cunningham (Man City); Brady (Hull), Towell (Hibernian), Clifford (Chelsea), White (Leeds Utd); Barton (Preston); Collins (Shrewsbury), Subs: Hourihane (Plymouth) for Clifford (66 mins), Stevens (Shamrock Rovers) for Cunningham (69 mins), Greene (Sligo Rovers) for Brady (79).
