Celtic youths

Celtic bhoy is Ireland’s hero

|
Image for Celtic bhoy is Ireland’s hero

FAIFiacre Kelleher scored the only goal of the game yesterday as Ireland’s u-19 side beat Sweden 1-0 in a friendly in Sollentuna.

Eight days earlier the kid from Cork had been on the scoresheet with Paul McMullan and Liam Henderson for Celtic’s Development side in the 3-2 win over Partick Thistle.

McMullan and Henderson scored in Scotland 2-2 draw with Finland on Tuesday with Kelleher’s header just before half-time giving Ireland victory over the highly rated Swedes.

Speaking to the FAI website Irish coach Paul Doolin said: “I am absolutely delighted with the win and the performance. We had a lot of withdrawals before we came out and had one or two of the squad with us ruled out of this game as well so it was great to play as well as we did and also win the game.

“We fully deserved the win and probably should have won by more than one goal. Another pleasing thing was that we kept another clean sheet.

“This is another excellent result for this group as they beat Holland last month and also defeated the Czech Republic at U18 level last season. Our focus is obviously next month’s qualifiers but this is a good boost ahead of those games especially as this Swedish team finished third at the World U17 Cup in 2013.”

Ireland have been drawn with Switzerland, Malta and Gibralter in the first qualifying round with the top two from the round robin event going through.

This afternoon McMullan, Henderson and Calum Waters will be in the Scotland side that faces Lithuania

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (v Sweden) : Harry Doherty (Brighton & Hove Albion); Noe Baba (Fulham), Sean Heaney (Shamrock Rovers), Fiacre Kelleher (Celtic), Shaun Donnellan (West Bromwich Albion); Connor Dimaio (Sheffield United), Harry Charsley (Everton), Reece Grego-Cox (QPR); Des Hutchinson (Brighton & Hove Albion), Joel Coustrain (Sheffield United), Frank Mulhern (Leeds United). Subs: Jamie Mulhall (Longford Town) for Donnellan, Eoghan Stokes (Leeds United) for Cox, Ryan Manning (Galway) for Mulhern, Jack Hallahan (West Bromwich Albion) for Hutchinson.  Unused Subs: Peter Burke (Sunderland), Regan Donelon (Sligo Rovers), Christopher Flanagan (Derry City).

Share this article

Online and independent- the only way to be. Enjoying instant news access and reaction, following the trends if not an influencer!