UEFA UNDER-19 PLAY-OFF: Football has given Republic of Ireland youth international Jonathan Daly a rollercoaster ride over the last two weekends.

The 19-year-old Dubliner was sent off for the the third time this season when playing for Stockport County against Burnley on Saturday week last, an indiscretion which earned him a five-match ban. Last Saturday, he scored his second senior goal for the club in a 3-1 defeat at Wimbledon which confirmed their relegation to English Second Division.

Scarcely will Daly have had time to digest the twists and turns of his fledgling career than he will be thrown in as Ireland's spearhead against Holland in the first leg of their UEFA Under-19 championship play-off in Rotterdam tomorrow evening.

Having seen off a highly fancied French team in their qualifying group, the Dutch go into the tie that will decide who goes to the finals in Norway in July firm favourites.

But Daly preaches the confident line that anything the Irish seniors can do, Brian Kerr's youths can emulate.

"The senior team proved that Holland are far from unbeatable," said Daly. "This Dutch team we play are very good. They knocked out France, one of the best teams in Europe, in their qualifying group.

"But the Irish seniors beat a very good Dutch team, so why can't we?"

Holland will see Daly, who scored four times as Ireland won all three games in their qulaifying tournament in Cork last November, as the chief threat as Kerr's tactical genius will be tested to the full in the hope of keeping the tie alive for the return at Turner's Cross on April 10th.

Daly has an added incentive for wanting to qualify for these finals.

"This squad qualified for Israel as under-16s two years ago, but I didn't go because I broke my leg just before the finals," explained Daly. "I'm desperate for us to qualify for these finals.

"But that's the same even for the lads who were in Israel. They felt they didn't do themselves justice there and want another opportunity to show what they can do."