Nordic Cup - Ireland win it!

Not sure if many even realise it was taking place but a great boost today with Ireland's U-17's winning the Nordic Cup in Icleand. Hopefully another good crop of young talent coming through!

Ireland win Nordic Cup

The Republic of Ireland Under 17s completed a brilliant week in Iceland by claiming the Nordic Cup with a 2-0 victory over England in Reykjavik on Sunday afternoon.

In a tight game, Ireland took control early on when Tom Lyons volleyed Ireland in front after being picked out by Karl Byrne’s cross.

And in the final minute, Ireland made it 2-0 when Killian Sheridan slammed home a second goal for Ireland after brilliantly skipping away from the England defence.

Manager Sean McCaffrey said: “It is a great achievement for everyone. I think we had the tactical edge on England in what was a very tight game.”

Republic of Ireland: Redmond; Fitzgerald, Donoghue, Breen, Byrne, Duggan, Daly, McDermott, Lawless, Treacy, Lyons.
Subs: Dixon for Byrne (41 mins), Sheridan for McDermott (70 mins), Day for Lyons, (80 mins), O'Toole for Lawless (80 mins).

Well done, hopefully some stars for the future. :)

Good to hear we won something... i was starting to think underage was going to the dogs :D

That's great news. I knew nothing about it. Beating England 2-0 is cause for celebration indeed.

woo-hoo, great, good stuff indeed. :D

McCaffrey mentioned winning tactical battles after a couple of matches now in this competition. Give him the U-21 job. :)

Look what happened after the last time we won something in Iceland!

Young Duggan in the side lives 7 doors up the road from me at home in Limerick, he was a fantastic talent even at a young(er) age, he'd run rings around anyone in the neighbourhood. Savage left foot as well. Bit odd he chose soccer, he's 2 older brothers who played rugby for local sides. I heard Boro were sniffing around him for a bit, but as it is he's still playing for a local club

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Originally Posted by Superhoops

Not sure if many even realise it was taking place but a great boost today with Ireland's U-17's winning the Nordic Cup in Iceland. Hopefully another good crop of young talent coming through!

Manager Sean McCaffrey said: “It is a great achievement for everyone. I think we had the tactical edge on England in what was a very tight game.”

.[/I]

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I live here and did not know about it. Anyway the weather was absolutly ****e, I stayed at home and watched the Croke Park games. Near hurricane strength storm, I honestly don't know how a game was possible, so maybe thats where the tactical edge came in to effect, unlike the english management they could read the local weather charts and were prepared.

I was keeping tabs on it via the FAI website; Following two wins in the group stage they went on to play denmark in the semi-final.

Here's the match report from the FAI, complete with classic Dublinese grammar mistake:

Sean McCaffrey’s Under 17 side today caused a massive upset as they claimed a place in the Nordic Championship final with a 3-1 victory over tournament favourites Denmark.

Denmark, who have scored seven goals without reply in their two opening encounters with Norway and Iceland were hotly tipped to reach the final with an exceptionally gifted squad which includes Mads Laudrup, son of Michael Laudrup, former captain of the national side.

The game started at high intensity with both teams playing attacking football. Killian Sheridan seen his 30 yard effort cannon back off the cross bar after 10 minutes while Garry Breen (Edit: not another one! a team of Gary Breens...) who starred at centre half was unlucky as his corner-kick also came off the crossbar.

Left-winger, Donal McDermott opened the scoring with his effort in the 23rd minute.

As the Danish side produced gifted attacking displays, The Irish were tactically supreme, winning midfield battles and attacking on the break.

As Denmark pushed for the equaliser, they were rewarded after 61minutes when Denmark’s playmaker, Kristensen was at hand to draw the game level.

The Republic of Ireland side responded almost instantly when Terry Dixon came from the bench to put his side into the lead with a neat goal with 67 minutes on the clock.

It was Dixon’s finish yet again to make sure of the win with a goal in the 79th minute which brought his overall goal tally to three for the tournament.

Ireland will now line up against England in the final after they defeated Sweden 2-1 leaving them top of the group which also included Finland, and the Faroe Islands.

Here's what was reported on the FA's site, makes it sound like England threw it away more than Ireland won it, but anyway:

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Playing in awful conditions - a 50 mph wind blowing straight across the unprotected pitch - the Irish won thanks to two moments of opportunism at either end of the match. Tom Lyons took advantage of a slight lapse in concentration in England's defence to score after just eight minutes and the Irish held on until the final minute when substitute Killian Sheridan made the game safe. England's best chance of the first half fell moments before the interval when an error from Shane Redmond nearly gifted Karl Ashton with a fourth goal in as many matches. Redmond kicked the ball out of his goal but, playing against the wind it fell for Ashton who had the swivel quickly to capitalise on the mistake and get a shot on goal before Lorcan Fitzgerald closed him down. The Derby striker did well to lob a delightful effort over Redmond but unfortunately for Kenny Swain's side, the ball fell on to the roof of the net. England continued to apply themselves in a positive manner and throughout the second half they created half chances, none of which quite fell invitingly for the forwards. Leicester City striker Ashley Chambers, who scored a hat-trick in midweek against the Faroe Islands, shot across the goal only to see his effort come off the far post. Still England didn't give up and even when the Irish broke away to score a decisive second goal in the last minute, England looked to attack the Irish goal and get out of the game what all their good play deserved. In the end they just couldn't find a way past Redmond and the Irish held on to win the match and the Nordic Tournament.

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