Brian Kerr's success as Republic of Ireland youth team manager reached new heights at McDiarmid Park, Perth, last night as his under-16s created history by becoming the first Irish side to make the final of a major football championship when they totally outplayed a Portuguese team regarded as one of the favourites to win this UEFA Youths Championship.
Ireland now meet Italy, who overcame Spain 2-1 in Stirling last night, in the final of the competition at 7.0 on Friday evening.
The beauty of this latest achievement by Kerr was the fact that his young players beat a fancied Portuguese team by playing football and scoring two wonderful goals, both from captain Shaun Byrne, who was inspirational throughout. They've yet to concede a goal in their five games in this tournament.
"The first-half we were a bit nervous," said Kerr, "but we really played some smashing football in the second-half to win well.
"It is very pleasurable for us to get to the final of this tournament, especially away from home. We've beaten Spain and now Portugal, who have won this competition seven times between them.
"It's all about tactics, psychology and dealing with real professionalism here. "We have beaten some of the superpowers at youths' level and there are no new countries here trying to find their way. Hopefully, we can now go on to win it."
Ireland made a mockery of their underdogs tag to take the game to the Portuguese from the start and dominated the first-half.
The loss of targetman striker David McMahon was hardly noticed as Byrne got a header in on goal in the fifth minute, but it looped comfortably into the hand of Portuguese goalkeeper Jose Moreira. Moreira was again busy two minutes later when having to get down well to hold a 20-yard drive from Andy Reid. The Portuguese had to defend desperately on 11 minutes as Ireland laid siege to their goal from their first corner.
Portugal did register a shot on target in the 16th minute, but nothing that troubled Joseph Murphy, who saved at the foot of a post.
Ireland kept the ball well, running the centre of midfield, with Reid and Brendan McGill causing the Portuguese difficulties down the flanks. Reid got in another fine cross on 26 minutes, which Byrne headed inches over the Portuguese crossbar.
Ireland had a scare in the second minute of the second-half when the tournament's top scorer, Miguel Barros, let fly with a stinging shot from 25 yards, but Murphy comfortably made the only real save he had in the entire match.
Portugal attempted to put something more into their game after half-time, but were never allowed to get a hold by a magnificent Irish defence. Byrne continued to lead by example and he finally gave the Irish performance the goal it deserved on 53 minutes.
Keith Foy and Reid worked a short free-kick out on the left. Moreira, wary of Graham Barrett's presence, flapped at Reid's cross and Byrne arrived to drill a low shot into the back of the net from 12 yards.
Portugal were utterly unable to raise their game as Ireland frustrated them in everything they attempted to do. There was a scare when Miguel Barros was narrowly wide with a fiercely struck shot from 25 yards. It would have provided the Portuguese with the most unjust of equalisers, before Byrne crowned Ireland's display with his second goal in the first minute of injury time.
It was a goal that had Kerr singing the praises of his players afterwards. Byrne started the move, involving Reid and then McGill, who crossed into the crowded area. Barrett went for the ball and miscued, but Byrne pounced to drive it into the net.
Republic Of Ireland: Murphy (Tranmere Rovers); Thompson (Home Farm), O'Shea (Waterford Bohemians), Goodwin (Celtic), Foy (Nottingham Forest); Grogan (Manchester Utd), Miller (Celtic), S Byrne (West Ham Utd); McGill (Rivervalley Rangers), Barrett (Arsenal), Reid (Nottingham Forest). Sub: O'Callaghan (Pike Rovers) for Grogan (82 mins).
Portugal: Moreira (Salgueiros); P Costa (Boavista), R Costa (Boavista), Cruz (Sporting Portugal), Ribeiro (Benfica); Pereira (FC Porta), Santos (Vitoria Guimaraes), Vieira (FC Porto), C Costa (Benfica); Barros (Benfica), Silva (Sporting Portugal). Subs: Ramos (Benfica) for Santos (65 mins); J Pereira (Vitoria Guimaraes) for R Costa (67 mins); Manita (Sesimbra) for Barros (73 mins).
Referee: De Bleeckere (Belgium).
