Czech Republic 1 Republic of Ireland 2 :The Republic of Ireland Under-19 team squad won the second match of their double-friendly fixture against the Czech Republic yesterday in Chocen courtesy of a last minute winning goal by striker Aidan Downes.
The home side cancelled out Irish top scorer Adam Rooney's eight minute opener with a second half equaliser but Everton attacker Downes — introduced as a first half replacement for the injured James O'Shea — sealed the victory in the 90th minute through a spectacular winning goal.
Ireland's win was a remarkable achievement given that they were beaten 1-4 by the same opponents on Tuesday last.
Manager Sean McCaffrey made four changes to the team that started on Tuesday and Ireland stepped up their performance considerably to achieve a splendid result against the highly-rated Czechs.
Ireland's win came in their final preparatory game before they embark on the second, elite, qualifying tournament for the UEFA Championship which will be held in Ireland from May 14 to May 19.
Adam Rooney fired Ireland into the lead following a long delivery out of defence from Matthew Cassidy. The Stoke City striker evaded the goalkeeper in a race for the ball before tucking away a shot from an acute angle.
Ireland's midfield anchor-man Robert Bayly, who missed Tuesday
match
with a calf strain, was back in the team orchestrating the
tempo of the match and he came close to doubling the advantage
approaching the break only to see his shot cleared off the
line.
The Czech's equalised ten minutes into the second half from the penalty spot but Ireland dug deep to carve out a morale-boosting win ahead of the resumption of their competitive campaign next month.
A flowing move that started in defence with Scott Davies, and involved passes between Robert Bayly, Alan Judge and Eddie Nolan, was finished off brilliantly by Downes with a rifling shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Ireland manager Sean McCaffrey hailed his team's determination: "The lads responded fantastically well from the heavy defeat on Tuesday to deservedly win tonight.
"We were unlucky to concede an equaliser through a dubious penalty decision but Aidan popped up to score the winner.
"I'm satisfied with the level of performance during the two games overall. Apart from a dreadful second half display on Tuesday, the lads were on top of their game and that's what we wanted from them heading into the qualifiers next month."
IRELAND:
Stephen Henderson (Aston Villa)
Scott Davies (Reading)
Edward Nolan (Blackburn Rovers)
Darren Dennehy (Everton)
Noel Haverty (St. Patrick's Athletic)
Matthew Cassidy (Bolton Wanderers)
Keith Quinn (Sheffield United)
Alan Judge (Blackburn Rovers)
Robert Bayly (Leeds United)
Adam Rooney (Stoke City)
James O'Shea (Bray Wanderers)
SUBS
Aidan Downes (Everton) for O'Shea — 35 mins
Kevin McArdle (Dundalk) for Cassidy — 46 mins
Mark Salmon (Wolves) for Quinn — 60 mins
Simon Madden (Leeds United) for Rooney — 80 mins.
