Ireland grab a place in finals

UNDER-17 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS ELITE STAGE QUALIFIER Republic of Ireland 2 Portugal 0:IRELAND WILL compete at the Under-17 European Championships this summer for the first time in eight years after overcoming a talented Portugal side at Terryland Park last night.

Needing to win by two clear goals to clinch the one qualifying passage into the finals in May, the Irish were frustrated in their attempts to unhinge a wellmarshalled Portuguese defence during the early exchanges.

However, after coming close on 26 minutes through a Greg Cunningham header, which rebounded off the crossbar, they gradually took control and sensed victory.

Seán McCaffrey's side found the breakthrough six minutes after the restart when a free-kick into the six-yard box from Conor Hourihane from the right wing was only flapped away by the goalkeeper Guerra. The Ireland midfielder John Sullivan was lurking 10 yards out and volleyed the ball goalward through a clutch of players and past Guerra.

Another well-worked set-piece led to Ireland's second goal, on 56 minutes. Aaron Doran's deep free-kick into the penalty area was perfectly measured for his Blackburn Rovers colleague Gavin Gunning to tower above the Portugal defence and head past Guerra from eight yards.

Germany recorded a 2-0 win over Greece, who finished the game with nine men, in the other match in the group, in Athlone.

Meanwhile, in the Republic of Ireland's first game in the Uefa Women's Under-17 European Championship (Elite Phase) last night in Perpignan, the Irish lost 1-0 to Scotland. The Irish girls will play France tomorrow and Norway on Sunday.

IRELAND:Hanley (Salthill Devon), Dunleavy (Wolves, capt) Ormsby (Crumlin), Gunning (Blackburn), Connolly (Wolves), Morrissey (Ringmahon), Brady (Manchester United), Hourihane (Sunderland), Cunningham (Manchester City), Doran (Blackburn), Sullivan (Crumlin United). Substitutes:Keane (Derby County) for Sullivan (71 mins), Murphy (Ipswich) for Brady (79 mins), Holohan for Cunningham (82 mins).

PORTUGAL:Guerra, Gomes, Duarte, Reis, Dias, Oliveira, Soares, Miranda, Costa, Jesus, Camara. Substitutes: Almeida and Carvalho for Costa and Soares (both 58 mins), Brandao for Dias (64 mins).

Referee:A Amirkhanyan (Armenia).