REPORT | U17 EURO | Poland 5-1 Ireland

COLIN O’BRIEN: FAI under 17 head coach

Ireland Men’s Under-17 suffered a 5-1 defeat to Poland in their opening game of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Budapest this afternoon.
 
An early goal by Shamrock Rovers’ Ike Orazi was the only highlight on a difficult day for Colin O’Brien’s side who were punished by an impressive Polish side. A double from Mateusz Skocylas and goals from Dominik Szala, Karol Borys and Szymon Kadziolka were enough for Poland to inflict the defeat on Ireland.
 
The young Boys in Green made a dream start in the 5th minute when Naj Razi broke free down the right wing and picked out his club mate Orazi who, on the second attempt, forced the ball over the line for his first goal at MU17 level.
 
This sparked Poland into life as they went on the offensive. Jason Healy was called into a save from Igor Bryski when he chested the ball down from a corner and volleyed, forcing the Waterford stopper to palm away the chance.
 
And it wasn’t long after this Poland got the equaliser. Skoczylas took advantage of hesitancy in the Irish backline to collect the ball and slot past Healy in the 13th minute.

 
Poland sensed another goal and had multiple chances to take the lead. First Oskar Tomczyk was put through one-on-one but dragged his effort wide. Then Jakub Krzyźanowski’s turn on the edge of the area freed him up to fire an effort that struck the bar. Turley was forced into a last ditch tackle from underneath his own crossbar and from the resulting corner Karol Borys produced an overhead kick that headed off the line.
 
With Ireland looking to make it to half-time level, Poland scored. A free-kick into the box was met by Szala to nod home and turn the game around.
 
Four minutes into the second half it was 3-1 to Poland. Skoczylas was allowed time to take aim and fire it for his second goal of the game to give. Karol Borys made it 4-1 shortly after when he found the corner from 20-yards out and  Szymon Kadziolka produced another quality Poland goal in the 65th minute - this one striking the post on it’s way into the net.
 
That would prove the last of the scoring and Ireland will look to bounce back when they face Wales in their second group game on Saturday afternoon.

 
Speaking after the game Head Coach Colin O’Brien said: “It's a tough one to take but we have to take our medicine now. We are far better than what we showed today and there are some big lessons to be learned and you get punished at this level for that.

"We started quite well and got the goal but Poland were the better team and there are no complaints. But we've two games now to put it right."
 
Poland: Piietutowski, Szala, Orlikowski, Krzyźanowski (Gurgul, 71), Bryzski, Rejczyk (Adamczyk, 71), Borys (Kadziołka, 64), Kolanko (C), Wolski, Skoczylas (Mikołajewski, 63), Tomcczyk.
 
Ireland: Healy, Harnett (Moore, 46), Grante, Ashbee, O’Sullivan, Turley (C), McGrath, Razi (Murray, 71), Kehir (Akachukwu, 56), Orazi (Okosun 56’), Melia
 
Referee: Atilla Karaoglan (Turkey)
 
UEFA U17 European Championship Group A fixtures/results  (all times are Irish time)
Wednesday, May 17 | Poland MU17 5-1 Ireland MU17
Saturday, May 20 | Ireland MU17 v Wales MU17, Pancho Arena, Felcsút, KO 3.30pm
Tuesday, May 23 | Ireland MU17 v Hungary MU17, Pancho Arena, Felcsút, KO 7pm