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The following players have been selected for the European Youth Championship in Dublin from 11th/16th July and will play 3 test matches against Scotland at the National Hockey Stadium. Match reports IRELAND v SCOTLAND Friday 30th June Ireland 2-0 Scotland Ireland under-16’s started their preparation for the forthcoming European A Division Championships in earnest on Friday evening. In match one of the three match series, they comfortably defeated their Scotland counterparts by two goals in the match played in glorious conditions at the National Hockey Stadium in Dublin. Ireland started brightly with Brian Doherty from Corinthians and Stuart Smyth from Cookstown pulling the strings for the home side. They, along with young starlet and Ireland captain Ryan McCrea caused the visitors continual problems and were only thwarted by some superb goalkeeping. Ireland really should have taken the lead on 24 minutes when Peter McDonnell, following in on a McCrea shot, hit the keeper when it might have been easier to score. He wasn’t the only guilty one, as Ireland piled on the pressure. It was right at the end of the half that the Irish took the lead. Sam O’Leary was left one-on-one with the defender inside the circle and a crude challenge by the Scottish player resulted in a penalty stroke being awarded. Doherty converted it low into the net to give the hosts the half-time lead. It was a case of more of the same at the start of the second half as the home side went in search of the second goal. Ryan McCrae in particular tormented the Scots with flashes of brilliance and should have score on more than one occasion. The visitors were indebted to their replacement keeper, who was sublime throughout the half and single-handedly kept his side in the game. He made world-class saves from McCrea, Robinson and Crooks in the early stages of the half as the home side continually dominated. Irish keeper Thom was never troubled as the Scots struggled to get into the game. The Irish team also lost Doherty, Beggs and Shannahan to injury as the heat started to take it’s toll. As the Irish continued to press, the game was wrapped up with only seven minutes remaining as McDonnell was upended in the circle and McCrea scored from the resulting penalty stroke. In a match which they should have won by a greater margin, the young Irish team showed that they just might be a team to be reckoned with in Dublin in a weeks time.
Team: Fleming, Brown, Sweetenam, Forbes, Doherty, Purcell, Smyth, Shannahan, Crooks, McCrea (c), Robinson. Subs from: Thom, Beggs, Hobbs, Sloan, Beamish, O’Leary, McDonnell, Harbinson. Saturday 01 July 2006 Ireland 5-0 Scotland
Ireland under-16’s followed on from their win in the first international with an even more impressive victory in the second match to secure the series. Goals from McCrea (2), Doherty, Smyth and McDonnell ensured that the home side ran out comfortable winners. Ireland started the match at an electrifying pace and went in front very early on, McCrea slotting home from a short corner variation. The Scottish kids were struggling to come to terms with the incisive running of Ireland’s front six, and the Irish set-piece count grew markedly. In fact it was the set-piece domination that was to dictate the game, with Ireland’s slicker routine proving the difference. Inside the first half Ireland converted four short corners, with Doherty, Smyth and McCrea adding to his earlier strike. Again the visiting keeper impressed, pulling off a string of stops to keep the score respectable. All the Scottish team could muster in reply was one short corner effort on target, which Irish keeper saved expertly diving to his right. Ireland were dealt a blow early on when defender Ian Harbinson was stretchered off with what looked like a serious ankle injury. He will now face a race against time to be fit for the European Championships. Half-time brought a change in the Scots as they appeared in a much more buoyant mood at the restart. They had a lot of possession in the early stages of the half but found it hard to break through the resolute Irish defence in which Doherty and Forbes impressed. In fact on the break it was the home side that further extended their lead. McDonnell intercepted the ball just inside the Scottish half and ran into the circle, beautifully rounding the defender before lifting the ball over the advancing keeper. This stirred the home side into life and they regained their superiority as the half went on. Crooks, Robinson and McCrea all started to see more of the ball and were instrumental in re-establishing the Irish dominance in the attacking third of the pitch. Although the dominance was re-established, the home side found it hard to add to their lead and seemed happy enough to keep possession as the half petered out. Ireland were happy with the afternoon’s work and ran out 5-0 winners. Things are all going right in their build up to the Europeans which kick off in 10 days time in Dublin.
Team: Fleming, Harbinson, Sweetenam, Forbes, Doherty, Purcell, Smyth, Sloan, McDonnell, McCrea (c), Robinson. Subs from: Thom, Beggs, Hobbs, Crooks, Beamish, O’Leary, Brown, Shanahan. Sunday 2nd July Ireland 3-3 Scotland Ireland rounded off their three match series against their Scottish counterparts with a hard fought draw in changeable conditions at Serpentine Avenue. After two easy victories against the same opposition in the previous two days, Ireland were far from their best and twice had to come from behind against a determined Scottish outfit. Ireland started off very sloppily indeed and were lucky not to fall behind on a couple of occasions. They had keeper Allistar Thom to thank for a couple of saves, one a superb stop diving to his right from a Scottish reverse stick slot. Ireland seemed to suffering from a little fatigue and struggled to get into the game. Stephen Sloan and William Robinson in particular were trying hard to get the Irish into the game, and as the half went on these two became more dominant. However it was the Scots who took the lead, when sloppy Irish defending left their centre forward with an open net to slot the ball into on 17minutes. This and the introduction of the impressive Stuart Smyth acted as the catalyst for a vast improvement in the home side. The forward line was starting to find room in the opposition and Peter McDonnell in particular worked tirelessly and with some reward. It was he and Robinson who linked beautifully to set up Mark Crooks for the equaliser on 25 minutes. And then it was the turn of Robinson himself to pounce and put the Irish into the lead shortly after. He drilled a low shot past the Scots keeper who was powerless to stop it. So despite not being at their best the Irish went into the break ahead and looking good to complete a series whitewash over their Celtic rivals. The Scots had other ideas, and came out impressively at the start of the half. Defenders Doherty and Forbes were in the thick of the action and dealt well initially with the Scottish onslaught. However they could not hold out for long and the visitors took the lead ten minutes in when from a short corner, which was well saved by Thom, the rebound was fired home. It was no more than the Scots deserved and they now had the bit between their teeth. The game was now a real ding-dong affair, with both teams going for the win. It was the Scots who pounced first, firing home low past Thom from a short corner in the 21st minute. However the Irish were determined to keep their unbeaten record and it was their pocket sized inspiration Ryan McCrea who came to the rescue. He drilled home a short corner on 25 minutes to draw the sides level. The Irish will have been disappointed not to have completed the series whitewash but Coach Andy Smyth was very pleased with the performance of his team over the weekend and with a little fine-tuning he will be hopeful of a good showing in the European Championships to be staged in Dublin next week. Team: Thom, Hobbs, Beggs, Forbes, Doherty, Purcell, Sloan, Beamish, Shanahan (c), Robinson, Crooks. Subs from: Fleming, Harbinson, O’Leary, Brown, McCrea, Smyth, McDonnell. Under 16 Boys - Ireland –v- England - match reports
15th-17th February 2006 – UCD As part of their final selection Ireland Under 16 Boys took on England in a three match test series against England at UCD. With large numbers of home and travelling England supporters, the atmosphere lent itself to that of full internationals. The games were evenly contested with Ireland getting off to an encouraging start in the first game when Brian Doherty (Leinster) put away a short corner drag flick into the top left hand corner of the net after 15 minutes. England equalised 10 minutes later with a well taken shot from striker, Sam Logan. England furthered their lead and secured the match in the 40th minute when David Flanagan followed up off a rebound close in. In the second match both sides cancelled each other out in the first half. Ireland had the better of the second period but failed to take their chances and suffered when England took the lead from Will Spain after a counter attack on the right hand side close to full time. In the final game Ireland went close at the start hitting both post and bar before an England onslaught, which saw 4 four goals in quick succession from Andrew Machin (2), Alex Boxhall & David Bell. Ryan McRea, sole survivor from last year’s Ireland Under 16’s, clawed a goal back on 33 minutes with a superb individual effort from the top of the circle. In the second half England added early pressure and went 5-1 ahead with a close in shot by David Gordon, after good bye-line work. William Robinson reduced the deficit with a trademark hard driven shot from the top of the circle and Jamie (Beckam) Brown claimed another shortly after. Despite repeated Ireland pressure in the last 15 minutes England came out worthy winners. Coach, Andrew Smyth, commented “This was an excellent opportunity for players to perform and enjoy themselves at the National Stadium where the European Championships will be held in July. That is our main focus. We will build up and prepare with sessions, camps and friendly internationals against Belgium and Scotland in the coming months. I am pleased with the players commitment but there is a lot of hard work ahead and personal fitness will be a key to future success” Ireland Under 16’s next training session will be in Dublin on 12th March 2006 with date & time to be confirmed.
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