UEFA U-19 Championship: After perhaps their best overall display of the tournament, Ireland were left to rue a host of missed chances as they had to settle for fourth place after a terrifically entertaining match at the Ulleval Stadium in Oslo yesterday afternoon.
UEFAAfter a first half in which they had the better chances, Ireland deservedly took the lead with a superb goal seven minutes after the interval.
Stephen Capper's long throw was flicked on by Stephen Paisley, celebrating his 19th birthday, and Stephen Brennan came across from the right to find the corner of the Slovakia net with a beautifully-hit left foot shot from 22 yards.
The lead lasted just four minutes, however. Paddy McCarthy felt he was fouled before he pulled down Jura Halenar some 20 yards out. Tomas Brusko curled the ball round the wall to give Wayne Henderson in the Irish goal absolutely no chance with his free kick which flew into the top right corner.
Sean Thornton came within a whisker of restoring Ireland's lead on 66 minutes; his diving header from Liam Kearny's cross was saved on the line by Peter Kostolani before Slovakia won this riveting contest with a stunning goal on 75 minutes.
Marek Cech fed Halenar who laid the ball off for substitute Roman Jurko to blast it to the roof of the net from the edge of the area for a truly brilliant goal.
Henderson then had to keep Ireland in the game with two stops with his feet from Filip Sepo. Press as they might late on - substitute Stephen Elliot coming closest when shaving the crossbar - Ireland couldn't force extra-time.
It's the fourth time in six years (they didn't qualify on the other two occasions) that this age group has been in the medals at these finals. A remarkable record.
The real achievement for this Irish team, though, is qualification for the FIFA World Youth Cup in the United Arab Emirates at the end of March next year. And manager Brian Kerr has already demanded that the FAI provide the funding for his preparations.
the priority with this team is to get them right and give them every chance at the World Cup," said Kerr. "I hope the association will allow us to spend some money in preparation for those finals.
"It's important that we have a proper programme in place. It will be very difficult for us in the UAE in hot, humid conditions. It certainly won't be as cool as it has been here in Norway.
"I'm very proud of all the players and staff. They behaved impeccably and we prepared for every match excellently.
"It was a difficult programme for us. We are not a physically strong team - we had the five smallest players at this tournament - but they really made up for that with unbelievable mental strength. They've played to their limit."
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Henderson (Aston Villa); Kelly (Tottenham Hotspur), McCarthy (Manchester City), Paisley (Manchester City), Copper (Sunderland); Brennan (Newcastle United), Thornton (Sunderland), Ward (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Foley (Liverpool), Kearney (Nottingham Forest), Daly (Stockport County). Subs: Gilroy (Middlesbrough), Elliot (Manchester City) for Foley, Brennan (both 78 mins), Rossiter (Sunderland) for McCarthy (83 mins).
SLOVAKIA: P Kostolani (FC Nitra); M Kostolani (FC Nitra), Sedivy (Inter Bratislava), Konecny (Sparted Trnava), Cech (Inter Bratislava); Ivana (Laugaricio Trencin), Kurty (MSK Ruzomberok), Brusko (Dynamo Kyiv), Zofcak (MSK Ruzomberok); Halenar (Inter Bratislava), Sebo (1 FC Cologne). Subs: Bakos (FC Nitra) for Zofcak (27 mins), Jurko (Slovan Bratislava) for Sebo (59 mins), Miklas (Laugaricio Trencin) for Kurty (69 mins).
Referee: S Kadmiel (Estonia).
