Ireland maintained their 100 per cent record and leadership of the European Youths (U-19) Championship qualifying tournament with a 2-0 win over Austria at Turner's Cross yesterday.
Ireland were forced to make a couple of changes from the team that beat Latvia on Monday with an ankle injury keeping team captain Mark Rossiter (Sunderland) on the touchline. But his replacement, Pat McCarthy, paid his way by scoring the first goal.
This came after 38 minutes when Jonathan Daly headed on a free from Michael Foley for McCarthy to power another header into the net.
Three minutes into the second half Austria's centre-back Emanuel Pegatetz scored a bizarre own goal. Stretching to reach a huge kick out from Ireland's goalkeeper Brian Murphy, the defender headed into his own net from the edge of the penalty area.
Ireland will go into tomorrow's deciding match against Croatia knowing that a draw will be enough to help them advance to a further round of qualifying matches, probably against France or The Netherlands. The winners will eventually qualify for the finals in Norway next July.
In the last round of matches Ireland play Croatia at St Colman's Park, Cobh, while Latvia play Austria at the Mardyke. Both matches kick-off at 7.30 p.m.
IRELAND; Murphy (Manchester City); Brennan (Newcastle Utd), McCarthy (Manchester City), Paisley (Manchester City), Capper (Sunderland), Lacey (Sunderland) (Kearney, Nottingham Forest, 87), Ward (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Foley (Liverpool) (Simpemba (Wycombe Wanderers, 88), Thornton (Tranmere Rovers), Daly (Stockport County), Deane (Charlton Athletic) (Snee, Spurs, 74).
