Ireland 1-3 Czech Republic
The Republic of Ireland Under-18 side went down to a 3-1 friendly loss to the Czech Republic at Home Farm FC’s Whitehall ground on Monday afternoon.
Paul Doolin’s side had won 4-0 when the sides met on Saturday but the wind and rain led to a scrappy affair today and the visitors were more clinical with their chances.
The Czechs started well with Patrik Haitl forcing a top save from Irish keeper Corey Chambers in just the fifth minute when he flicked towards goal from a right wing cross.
Libor Holík also drew an impressive stop from Chambers in the 15th minute before Leo Donnellan had Ireland’s first decent effort with a long range strike that Jan Plachý did well to push wide.
Haitl hit the base of an Irish upright with a powerful effort in the 22nd minute and six minute later Ondej Šašinka opened the scoring with a brilliant curled effort from 25 yards out that was wind assisted.
Ireland levelled in the 33rd minute when Liam Brady - brother of Norwich star Robbie - fired home from a penalty kick after Kyle Finn had been fouled following up a Jamie Aherne effort which was parried by the keeper.
The youngster plays with English club Stevenage whom he joined this year.
Two minutes into the second half Haitl hit the post again with a close range effort after Chambers had saved his initial effort.
The Czechs went ahead in the 55th minute when substitute Dominik Breda turned the ball home from close range after connecting with a low delivery from the right.
James Doona had a chance to level matters two minutes later but Plachý got down well to save.
Chambers made another good stop to keep out a Breda effort with his feet in the 61st minute and two minutes later Trevor Clarke had a powerful strike from an angled effort pushed around the post by the keeper.
The scoring was competed in the 64th minute when the Czechs broke from an Irish corner and Inter Milan striker Dominik Smékal slotted past the advancing Chambers.
“It was a different game then Saturday and the wind had a big influence,” said Doolin afterwards.
“The Czechs probably deserved to win it but we had enough chances to maybe get a draw. They were very aggressive from the start and a foul on Shane Hanney very early on probably set the down. It should have been a red card to be honest.
“Overall these games have been useful for the players but the Czechs train every month and you can see the difference.”
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Corey Chambers, Shane Hanney, Conor McCarthy, Darragh Leahy (C), Conor Kane, Leo Donnellan, Corey O'Keeffe, James Doona, Kyle Finn, Liam Brady, Jamie Aherne. Subs: Daniel Mandroiu for Hanney 12 mins; Luke Wade-Slater for Donnellan 50; Trevor Clarke for Finn 55; Gerry McDonagh for Aherne 55; Brandon Payne for O'Keeffe 79.
CZECH REPUBLIC: Jan Plachý, Libor Holík, Ondej Chvja, Daniel Mareek, Ondej Šašinka (c), Ladislav Hejl, Alex Král, Patrik Haitl, Daniel Novák, Emil Tischler, Ladislav Mužík. Subs: Dominik Smékal for Mužík 53, Dominik Breda for Novák 53, Ondej Lingr for Šašinka 72, Martin Samiec for Chvja 72, Ondej Rudzan for Hejl 72.
