SOCCER:REPUBLIC OF Ireland under-19 manager Paul Doolin has faced many obstacles in his career, but last night's game in Bucharest took the biscuit. Doolin's young side managed to withstand numerous Greek attacks, but it was the thunder, lightning and torrential rain that gave him the most worries, writes John Fallon.
Defender Anthony O’Connor was the hero on the night, scoring at the start of either half, but Doolin was quick to highlight the importance of goalkeeper Aaron McCarey’s save with just five minutes left in the game.
“It was terrific save,” admitted Doolin afterwards. “I still think we probably shaded the game and this result gives us a good platform to go on in the group.
“Considering the boiling weather we’ve had in recent days, you want to play a game on a calm evening but it turned out like a hurricane.
“Our bus passed by the Spain game on our way here and I’ve never seen weather like it.
“You have to wonder about the players’ minds in that situation because the game was in doubt.
“I knew this stadium would be open to the conditions having visited in June, but I have to say our lads were fantastic.
“We played some excellent football and the good start with the opening goal gave us a boost.”
Next up for Ireland in Group A is a meeting with Czech Republic, 3-1 winners over Romania in the other game in the pool contested yesterday, before they face the hosts next Tuesday.
The top two from the group progress to the semi-final stage.
MANCHESTER City’s former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor is wanted by Harry Redknapp, the Tottenham Hotspur manager, on loan and the player is thought to be interested in the move. With Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko, Tottenham’s three frontline strikers, scoring only 18 Premier League goals between them last season, the manager feels the side needs fresh fire-power.
Speaking on their tour of South Africa, Redknapp said: “The chairman (Daniel Levy) has been speaking about it. I am not sure if it will happen.
“He is a name that has been mentioned, certainly. I spoke to the chairman about loaning the player and if we could work out a deal for him, I would like to bring him to the club.”
Adebayor has proved a divisive figure at City since moving there from Arsenal for €28 million two years ago.
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