REPORT | Ireland MU15s seal friendly win in Poland

UMEH SUPERB STRIKE SINKS POLES AS DONOHOUE’S CHARGES BOUNCE BACK FROM PENALTY ’DEFEAT’

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND U15S….1 POLAND……...0

The Republic of Ireland Men’s Under-15s team ended their friendly double-header on a high with a 1-0 win over Poland in Babimost.
 
Jaden Umeh’s second-half strike won it for Ireland who bounced back from a penalty shootout defeat against the same opposition on Tuesday.
 
Jason Donohue utilised his squad and made a number of changes to the team that started earlier in the week with Shamrock Rovers’ Brody Lee captaining the team.
 
Ireland had a glorious chance in the 27th minute when Lee broke clear and hit an ambitious effort that struck the post and bounced clear.
 
Poland looked the more threatening but for all their chances Luke Cullen in the Irish goal was untroubled as the defence stood up to the Polish attack.
 
In the second half it was the hosts who started the brighter with Antoni Uchroński going close twice in the space of a minute. Firstly, he missed the target after finding himself in space in the penalty box and a minute later he hit the woodwork with Luke Cullen seemingly beaten.
 
Ireland then went on the front foot with Almeria’s Ramon Martos stinging the hands of Antoni Blocki from distance.
 
However Ireland wouldn’t have to wait long to find the break through when Martos delivered an exquisite pass into the path of Cork City’s Umeh who didn’t need to take a touch as he guided it beyond Blocki and into the far corner.
 
From then on Ireland looked the stronger of the teams. Umeh, younger brother of Ireland MU19 international, Franco, again broke clear and his cut back had to be pounced on by Blocki as the visitors piled on the pressure.
 
Poland didn’t create any chances of note as Ireland saw the game out for an impressive win and cleansheet away from home.
 
Speaking after the game Republic of Ireland Men’s Under-15s Head Coach Jason Donohue said: “It was a great performance, a great win, a great goal and a great pass to set it up.
 
“To come away and get two cleansheets against the quality of opposition like Poland is really pleasing. I felt we could have won both games this week and that is reflected in the high possession stats for us in both games.
 
“We had three very good performances in the last international window in Croatia and we brought that confidence into this camp. Overall I’m very happy with how the week has gone and now we take some time off and then begin preparations for Australia U16s in January.”
 
Poland: Blocki, Kędziora, Cegliński, Leniart, Pieczka, Baj, Korzeniowski, Uchroński, Bartowiak, Tarkowski, Baczewski. Substitutes: Zieliński, Foks, Malota, Ruszkiewicz, Sianiawski, Dudek, Węgrzyn, Levy, Nowicki
 
Republic of Ireland: L. Cullen, Costello, McGrath, Doyle (Noonan, 62), A. Cullen (Steward, 62), McCourt (Finneran, 40), McEvoy (Oladiti, 41), Devlin (Umeh, 41), Ogbonna (Solanke, 41), Lee (C), Hayes (McDonnell, 41)
 
Referee: Dariusz Gęsior (Poland)

International results

Tuesday, November 8 | Poland MU15 0-0 Republic of Ireland MU15 (Poland win 3-2 on penalties)

Friday, November 11 | Poland MU15 0-1 Republic of Ireland MU15