Hungary v Albania

Hungary v Republic of Ireland

Hayes Off The Mark As Girls In Green Enjoy Second Win

Caitlin Hayes scored her first goal for the Republic of Ireland in what was a dominant performance in Budapest with Katie McCabe, Kyra Carusa and Denise O’Sullivan all getting on the scoresheet.

As dominant a performance as you would like for what looks to be the toughest fixture of the group stage. Two wins from the same amount of games is the ideal start to this campaign.

Eileen Gleeson will be happy her new reign has an unbeaten start, seven goals and two clean sheets to add to that, the World Cup hangover has not seen Ireland slow down. Denise O’Sullivan pulling the strings with a player of the match display.

Playing in an advanced role, alongside the likes of Katie McCabe and Heather Payne operating the channels, in possession Ireland looked solid and created chances, the hosts not doing much to cause an issue this evening in the Hungarian capital.

For what was a tricky away test, the Girls In Green looked out of sync in the early minutes as plenty of loose passes saw the Irish gift the hosts back possession countless times. Once they settled, getting the likes of Katie McCabe and Denise O’Sullivan on the ball was starting to have an effect.

O’Sullivan opting for Heather Payne on the right wing was a major outlet that was causing issues, Payne crossed for Lucy Quinn but the ball was just ahead of the midfielder, the second effort cannoned off the bar and despite Hungary goalkeeper Reka Szocs getting the slightest of touches on it no corner was awarded.

Quinn fired wide at the end of the opening quarter of an hour of action under pressure, the best chance came in the 17th minute as O’Sullivan found Kyra Carusa, through on goal a Hungarian defender made a vital intervention to block the goal bound effort.

The deadlock was broken less than 60 seconds later, Katie McCabe roaming on the right wing, she whipped in a brilliant left footed cross that newly acquired Caitlin Hayes rose to head home at the far post from close range.

Hungary had little in the way of chances, after the half hour mark Caitlin Hayes deflected an audacious long range effort for a corner. The hosts looked to be coming back into proceedings, which ended four minutes from the break as McCabe unleashed a rocket of a strike to the net.

McCabe had intended to play in O’Sullivan with an over the top ball, the clearance was poor and winning the ball back she struck from range for a vital 2-0 lead. A lead taken to the dressing room, despite being a Banana skin of a contest, Ireland were bossing the tie.

Four minutes into the second stanza and it was 3-0, that right flank outlet worked wonders once again, Carusa went down appealing a penalty, nothing awarded with possession still with Ireland, Payne raced out wide and crossing to the near post, Carusa was there to head home.

Four minutes later she could have had a second, the ball just eluding her. Courtney Brosnan was called into action on the first real occasion in the 57th minute, Zsanett Kajan firing a tame effort that was routine for Brosnan to save.

Searching for further goals, Carusa fired off the woodwork with a header after Abbie Larkin supplied an inch perfect delivery, with 20 minutes left the fourth arrived. O’Sullivan applied the finish after Megan Connolly raced through midfield, she found Carusa and pulled it back on the right flank, setting up O’Sullivan to strike home.

The tempo slowed in the final quarter, the business however was done, what comes next now will be interesting to see how this side builds on these two results. The only side in Group B unbeaten thus far.

Germany v France

Hungary v Wales

Poland v Republic of Ireland

Ireland struggle in Under 17 opener in Budapest

Ireland’s opening game at the 2023 Under-17 European Championships in Hungary ended with a 5-1 hammering by Poland.

Ike Orazi opened the scoring for Ireland in the 5th minute, beating the keeper at the second attempt after some nice work on the wing by Naj Razi set the Shamrock Rovers forward free. The opening few minutes was played at a fast pace with both sides trading early jabs.

Colin O’Brien’s side were undone in the 13th minute when Mateusz Skoczylas won the ball in the Irish box and fired past Jason Healy. Shortly after Lech Poznan striker Oskar Tomczyk let Ireland off the hook when his low shot flew just wide of the post.

After that close shave, the Boys in Green retreated into a low block and spent the rest of the first half under the cosh with Poland having the majority of possession. That Polish dominance paid off as just before the break Dominik Szala put Poland ahead.

At the restart, O’Brien sent Matthew Moore on for Kaylem Hartnett who seemed to have picked up a knock during the first half. Poland nabbed themselves two goals in the space of six minutes to put the tie to bed as Ireland struggled to get on the ball and move out of their own half. 

The young Boys in Green were second best in almost all of their duels and the Polish proved to be more adept at picking apart the Irish defence, coming close to adding to their tally several times. 

Poland’s fifth goal came from substitute Szymon Kadziolka who had only been on the pitches for mere seconds before his deflected shot hit the top corner. Barring a couple of glimpses of the class of St Patrick’s Athletic forward Mason Melia, Ireland was reduced to the occasional speculative shot from outside the box to threaten Poland. A poor performance by the Irish youngsters and they will hope to bounce back against Wales in their next match on Saturday at the Pancho Arena.