Noel King’s team got off to the ideal start with a victory at home to Andorra in Waterford’s RSC, where they dominated play and could have added more goals to the final scoreline.
Setting out to qualify for the 2017 European Championships in Poland, the U21s racked up as many friendly games as possible (four overall) in order to forge team spirit and continuity.
While the results didn’t go their way in two friendly games against English opposition, King would be have been pleased with aspects of their performances and the same would apply to their win over Qatar’s Under 22 side and the scoreless draw with Norway.
However, the qualifying campaign was what really mattered and they followed up their first win in Group 2 by beating Andorra again – this time away thanks to goals from Tommie Hoban and Josh Cullen.
King’s team maintained their rhythm for the visit of Lithuania to Waterford in October, where they again played excellent football and won courtesy of goals from Callum O’Dowda, Conor Wilkinson, and Alan Browne.
A narrow loss away to group leaders Italy and a defeat away to Lithuania finished off the year on a sour note, but it leaves the U21s with a clear focus on what they have to do in 2016 with double headers against Serbia and Slovenia still to come.
Results
Rep of Ireland 1-0 Andorra, UEFA Qualifier, RSC, 26 March
Rep of Ireland 1-2 England C, Friendly, Eamonn Deacy Park, 1 June
England 3-1 Rep of Ireland, Friendly, St George’s Park, 5 June
Rep of Ireland 4-1 Qatar U22, Friendly, Gigg Lane, 4 September
Andorra 0-2 Rep of Ireland, UEFA Qualifier, Andorra, 8 September
Rep of Ireland 3-0 Lithuania, UEFA Qualifier, RSC, 9 October
Italy 1-0 Rep of Ireland, UEFA Qualifier, Italy, 13 October
Lithuania 3-1 Rep of Ireland, UEFA Qualifier, Lithuania, 13 November
Rep of Ireland 0-0 Norway, Friendly, RSC, 17 November
Appearances
9 – Alan Browne, Sean Kavanagh
8 – Jack Connors, Darragh Lenihan, Sean Maguire, Callum O’Dowda, Conor Wilkinson
7 – Dylan Connolly, Danny Rogers
6 – Shane Griffin, Sean Long, Glen Rea
5 – Josh Cullen
4 – Jack Byrne
3 – Harry Charsley, Shamir Fenelon, Reece Grego-Cox, Eric Grimes, Tommie Hoban
2 – Lee Desmond, Bradley Garmston, Sean Hoare, Brian Lenihan, Kenny McEvoy, Pierce Sweeney
1 – Noe Baba, Liam Bossin, Kyle Callan-McFadden, John Kavanagh, Ian Lawlor, Brandon Miele, Kevin O’Connor
Goals
2 – Alan Browne, Sean Kavanagh, Conor Wilkinson
1 – Dylan Connolly, Josh Cullen, Reece Grego-Cox, Tommie Hoban, Sean Long, Sean Maguire, Callum O’Dowda
Clean Sheets
3 – Danny Rogers
1 – Eric Grimes, Ian Lawlor