Republic of Ireland qualify for Uefa U17 Championships despite defeat to Poland

Republic of Ireland Under-17 0 Poland Under-17 1

The Republic of Ireland qualified for the Uefa Under-17 Championships despite going down to a defeat to hosts Poland on a dramatic final day of their Elite Phase qualifying group in Grodzisk Wielkopolski, Poland on Thursday.

Tom Mohan’s side knew that a single goal defeat to the hosts may have been enough to reach the finals in Bulgaria in May and with Greece drawing 0-0 with Belarus in the other fixture the Irish finished second and clinched qualification.

Poland scored their goal in the 10th minute when Pawel Kaczmarczyk turned the ball home from close range after break down the right wing and Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher made a string of outstanding saves to keep the home side from adding to their tally .

Ireland could not level in the end but Mohan was delighted afterwards as his side progressed despite the result.

“It was a hard battle and we would have loved to get a result but we’re delighted to progress to the finals,” said Mohan.

“It’s a massive group effort from staff, players – four lads couldn’t come here this week through injuries – but the lads on the pitch did fantastic work. Everybody has just been fantastic.”

The under-17 side last played in the Uefa finals in 2008.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Kelleher, O'Keeffe, Lunney (Stokes 41 mins), Masterson, Leahy, Hanney, Barrett, Ronan, Clarke (Levingston 71 mins), Wade-Slater (Elbouzedi 55 mins), Aherne.