Soccer Shorts

Today's other stories in brief

Depleted under-21s up against it

The Republic of Ireland's under-21 team goes into its final game at the Madeira Invitational Tournament trophy today struggling for fit players, reports Stephen Finn from Madeira.

Irish manager Don Givens fears he will be without eight of the players from their opening fixture this week when his side play their final game against Portugal in Machico (noon).

Celtic face St Johnstone in semis

Favourites Celtic have been drawn against First Division St Johnstone in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup.

Hibernian and Dunfermline meet in the other last-four tie, which also takes place at Hampden Park in April.

UCD take Collingwood Cup south Conan Byrne and Darren Forsyth scored as UCD beat UU Coleraine 2-0 at DCU yesterday to bring the Irish universities' Collingwood Cup back to Belfield for the first time since 1994.

The Dublin college went in front on 68 minutes when Ger O'Callaghan was taken down in the box by Coleraine defender Neil Fraser and Byrne made no mistake from the spot. UCD struck again with six minutes remaining when Forsyth finished a Byrne cross.

UCD: B Brennan, D Kelly, S Gordon, S Rojack, E McMillen, G O'Callaghan, C Byrne, B King, N Daly (B Doherty 88), J O'Sullivan, D Forsyth.

UU Coleraine: R McGeough, S Crawley (M Byrne 63), F Clausnitzer, N Fraser, N Conlon, G Baird (A Irvine 87), C Doherty (A Long 63), S Lowry, P Trolan, N Hagan (B Gourley 79), A Gordon.

Celtic duo set Ireland clear

Celtic pair Graham Carey and Paul Cahillane shared the goal-scoring as the Republic of Ireland beat Georgia 3-1 in an under-18 international in Mafra, Lisbon, yesterday. Carey opened the scoring in the 20th minute. Georgia equalised but a second goal for Carey and another from Cahillane sealed the victory.

Ireland play Belgium today and if they are victorious their final match against Portugal on Sunday will be a tournament decider.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: S Redmond (Notts Forest), C Treacy (Notts Forest), B Maloney (Notts Forest), M Spillane (Norwich City), M O'Toole (Norwich City), D Hutton (Tottenham), J Berrett (Huddersfield Town), M Liddle (Sunderland), P Cahillane (Celtic), G Carey (Celtic), K Byrne (Plymouth). Subs: C Hughton (Tottenham) for Treacy (45 mins), R Carolan (Crystal Palace) for Berrett (68 mins), R Harkin (Charlton Ath) for Liddle (45 mins), D Corcoran (Belvedere) for K Byrne (71 mins).