Soccer

Own-goal agony for Ireland's U-17s

Gavin Gunning scored an own-goal to give Switzerland a 1-0 win over the Republic of Ireland UEFA Championship U-17 finals in …

Wed May 07 2008 - 01:00

Gavin Gunning scored an own-goal to give Switzerland a 1-0 win over the Republic of Ireland UEFA Championship U-17 finals in Turkey this afternoon.

The Blackburn youngster's error nine minutes into the second half left Sean McCaffrey's side needing other results to go their way if they were to remain in the tournament.

But France's 3-3 draw with Spain this evening meant there was no mathmatical possibiliy of Ireland progressing.

Despite not knowing the result of the Spain-France tie, McCaffrey had already conceded his team needed "a miracle to qualify".

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"I'm disappointed for the boys because they've worked very hard this week and kept their discipline," he said.

Ireland pressed the Swiss particularly late in the game and saw a number of efforts go close.

"We retained possession better as the game wore on but Switzerland were very well organised. Overall, they defended brilliantly," the Ireland boss added.

Conor Hourihane and Richie Towell returned to the Irish starting line-up after missing Sunday's group opener against France; and captain Conor Clifford came through a fitness test today to take up his role in midfield.

But after just nine minutes, his midfield partner Gearoid Morrissey got injured and had to be replaced by Paul Murphy, who scored Ireland's goal against France in Sunday's 2-1 defeat.

Gunning's own goal came from a free-kick by Steven Ukoh into the Irish box which was sliced into the net.
 
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND:Ger Hanley (Salthill Devon), Padraic Ormsby (Crumlin United), Danny Joyce (Belvedere), Mark Connolly (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Gavin Gunning (Blackburn Rovers), Conor Clifford (Chelsea), Gearoid Morrissey (Ringmahon Rangers), Aaron Doran (Blackburn Rovers), Richie Towell (Celtic), Conor Hourihane (Sunderland), Greg Cunningham(Manchester City)
Substitutes: Paul Murphy (Ipswich Town) for Morrissey (9 mins), Robert Brady (Manchester United) for Hourihane (61 mins), Darragh Satelle (Hull City) for Cunningham (78 mins). Subs not  used: John Sullivan (Crumlin United), John Dunleavy (Wolves), Gavin Carlin (West Bromwich Albion), Shaun Timmons (Birmingham City)

SWITZERLAND:Rene Borkovic, Bigambo Rochat, Fabio Daprela, Philippe Koch, Michael Lang, Steven Ukoh, David Frey, Taulant Xhaka, Admir Mehmedi, Alexandre Pasche, Dino Rebronja.
Subs: Patrick Durig for Rebronja (78 mins) and Xherdan Shaqiri for Pasche (80 mins).  Subs not used: Nassim Ben Khalifa, Hrvoje Bukovski, Fisnik Sabedini, Stefano Milani, Sven Lehmann.