UEFA UNDER-19 PLAY-OFF/First Leg: A sublime last-minute goal from Seán Thornton gave Ireland a deserved win as youths' manager Brian Kerr revelled in the glow of another tactical tour de force as his side stand 90 minutes away from the finals in Norway in July.
In an intriguing match at the Excelsior Stadium it was Ireland who reached highest in terms of endeavour and guile as a talented Dutch team were never allowed to take a hold on the match.
Stephen Elliott put Ireland deservedly in front with literally his first touch of the ball following his 73rd minute substitution.
Holland rallied and levelled through one of their substitutes, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, four minutes later. But Ireland never flagged and hit back for their winner.
Ireland can now afford a 1-0 defeat in the return at Turner's Cross on April 10th to give Kerr his eighth qualification for a youths finals in his five years in charge. "It was a magnificent, superb, disciplined and organised performance," said a delighted Kerr. "We restricted them to one chance, the goal."
Having felt each other out with shots at either end that were blocked, Ireland carved out the first two openings on 12 minutes.
A nervous Erwin Friebel in the Dutch goal sent a poor clearance to his left back Michael Jansen but Conor Gethins was alert to snatch possession. But, having done the hard bit, the Ross County striker hurried his opportunity and shot wide across goal when Jonathan Daly was well placed.
Minutes later, again sluggish defending by the Dutch saw Thornton burst between two orange shirts only to hurry his shot into the sidenetting. The expected onslaught from the Dutch never materialised and their first real chance came on 26 minutes when John van Beukering glanced his header wide.
Poor defending almost let Jonathan Daly in on goal for Ireland seven minutes after the break but Friebel was off his line to clear a poor back pass from de Jong. Dutch defender Jos Hooiveld then came up to send a header onto the Irish crossbar from Nicky Hofs' corner on 66 minutes before the goals arrived eight minutes later.
Thornton, played in by Adrian Deane, clashed with Friebel with the ball squirming clear for Elliott to score with an angled shot.
Holland were level four minutes later; Hunterlaar shooting to the net after Jansen headed down Hofs' free kick. But the sting in the tail for the Dutch was no more than the visitors deserved.
McCarthy, along with Stephen Paisley magnificent in the heart of the Irish defence, won a header on half-way to get the ball to Thornton. The midfielder did the rest; he scored with a sublime half volley from 25 yards.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Murphy (Manchester City); Kelly (Tottenham), Paisley (Manchester City), McCarthy (Manchester City), Capper (Sunderland); Ward (Wolves), Whelan (Manchester City), Thornton (Tranmere Rovers); Gethins (Ross County), Daly (Stockport County), Deane (Charlton Ath). Subs: Elliott (Manchester City) for Gethins (73 mins), Simpemba (Wycombe Wanderers) for Deane (90 mins).
Referee: D Gomes (Portugal).
