U-19 friendly v Italy

Kick off, 1.30pm. 10 of the better players had to withdraw including the likes of Cregg, McShane, O'Brien, Painter and Simmonds and there's still quite a few decent players in the team.

Darren Randolph (Charlton Athletic) – Gary Dicker (UCD), Darren O’Dea (Celtic), Richard Keogh (Stoke City), Ian Morris (Leeds United) – Stephen Foley-Sheridan (Aston Villa), Darren Gibson (Manchester United), John Paul Kelly (unattached), Patrick Collins (Huddersfield Town) – Andrew Keogh (Bury, on loan from Leeds United), Jonathan Hayes (Reading).
Subs: Darren Quigley (UCD), Travis Binnion (Sheffield United), David Elebert (Preston North End), James Hand (Huddersfield Town), Shane Long (Cork City), Billy Clarke (Ipswich Town), Diarmuid O’Carroll (Celtic).

Arsenal's Lupoli is in the Italian squad. BTW, I read in today's Indo that Keogh can do 20 metres in under 2 seconds.

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Originally Posted by eirebhoy

BTW, I read in today's Indo that Keogh can do 20 metres in under 2 seconds.

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Really!!! :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Peadar

Really!!! :rolleyes:

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yes

Keogh's Italian hope
Tuesday January 18th 2005

IRISH striker Andy Keogh hopes his electric pace will trouble the Italian defence when the sides meet in this afternoon's U-19 friendly international in Corato.

The Leeds United lad, who is currently on loan to Bury, has been clocked at two seconds for a 20 metre burst.

The former St Joseph's Boys player scored on his debut for Bury on Saturday when he sprinted clear of the defence and beat the 'keeper in a one-on-one situation.

Ironically the goal was against S****horpe where he spent two months on loan at the beginning of the year.

Having seen 10 of his original panel forced to withdraw, manager Seán McCaffrey flew to Italy yesterday without the likes of Aiden McGeady, Paul McShane and Joey O'Brien although he can still on the experience of Keogh, John Paul Kelly and Stephen Foley.

SQUAD - Randolph (Charlton), Quigley (UCD), Elbert (Preston), R Keogh (Stoke), Gibson (Man Utd), O'Dea (Arsenal), Binnion (Sheffield Utd), Long (Cork City), Foley (Aston Villa), JP Kelly (unatt), Collins (Huddersfield), Dicker (UCD), Morris (Leeds), Hand (Huddersfield), Keogh (Bury), O'Carroll (Celtic), Clarke (Ipswich), Hayes (Reading).
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0-0 half time.

And the match finished 0-0. They play again on Thursday, no doubt with a lot of changes to the teams.

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The Republic of Ireland Under 19s held a strong Itay side to a scoreless draw in Corato, just outside Bari, in the first of two friendlies between the countries on Tuesday afternoon.

Against a very strong physical side on a bumpy pitch, Ireland competed well to deservedly claim the draw with Charlton Athletic goalkeeper Darren Randolph making two vital saves for Ireland.

However, Italy can also count themselves fortunate to escape with a draw as both Diarmuid O'Carroll and Michael Collins had good chances to give Ireland the lead.

Manager Sean McCaffrey said: "It was a great performance on a bumpy pitch. We started nerviously but I think towards the end, we were the stronger and better side.

"We gave away a lot to them physically - we had nine players who are eligible for Under 19 next year and they had just one - but we coped very well.

"There were a few good debuts as well. Gary Dicker did well at right back and Richard Keogh was strong at centre half but it was a good all round performance."

Ireland play Italy again on Thursday afternoon.

Team: Darren Randolph (Charlton Athletic), Gary Dicker (UCD), Richard Keogh (Stoke City), Darren O'Dea (Celtic), Ian Morris (Leeds United); Darron Gibson (Manchester United), Michael Collins (Huddersfield), John Paul Kelly (Unattached), Steven Foley (Aston Villa); Jonathan Hayes (Reading), Andy Keogh (Leeds United - on loan at Bury).
Subs: Travis Binnion (Sheffield United) for Morris, Diarmuid O'Carroll for Hayes (both half time).

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http://www.fai.ie/article.asp?hlid=2...avlid=&sublid=

In the second friendly Ireland won 2-0. Diarmuid O'Carroll (Celtic) and Billy Clarke (Ipswich Town) scored the goals.

Team: Darren Randolph (Charlton Athletic); Richard Keogh (Stoke City), Darren O’Dea (Celtic), David Elebert (Preston North End); Gary Dicker (UCD), James Hand (Huddersfield Town), Michael Collins (Huddersfield), Ian Morris (Leeds United); Jonathan Hayes (Reading), Diarmuid O’Carroll (Celtic), Billy Clarke (Ipswich Town).

What a superb result considering we were missing 11 first squad (mostly first team) players and Italy had the likes of Arsenal's Lupoli and Roma's Cerci to call on.