Sport

Impressive win for Ireland

UNDER 21 FRIENDLY/Republic of Ireland 2 Spain 1: GOALS FROM Jay O’Shea and Alan Judge gave the Republic of Ireland under-21s…

Sat Mar 28 2009 - 00:00

UNDER 21 FRIENDLY/Republic of Ireland 2 Spain 1:GOALS FROM Jay O'Shea and Alan Judge gave the Republic of Ireland under-21s an impressive victory over their Spanish counterparts in Waterford last night.

O’Shea’s close-range finish after 37 minutes gave the hosts the lead at half-time and, with the help of some good work by goalkeeper Shane Redmond, that advantage was extended by Plymouth’s on-loan Blackburn midfielder Judge.

Ivan Bolado pulled one back for Spain soon after but Ireland held on. Goalkeeper Redmond was in the action early, parrying a shot from Jeffren in the 12th minute.

And it was Ireland who drew first blood as O’Shea crashed the ball home from six yards to hand them the lead. Spain pressed before half-time and Real Madrid midfielder Daniel Parejo tested Redmond, firing from 12 yards, only to see his effort tipped round the post.

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Redmond had to be at his best seven minutes after the break, pulling off a fantastic save to deny Bolado. But Ireland doubled their lead just a minute later.

Cillian Sheridan was the creator, his cross from the left finding Judge, who finished right-footed from 12 yards.

Jeffren again tested Redmond with an effort from the edge of the box which the Ireland goalkeeper turned behind after 63 minutes.

But from the resulting corner he was finally beaten, as Parejo’s cross from the right eventually found its way to Bolado, who shot low into the Ireland goal.

Jeffren twice tried his luck from distance but Ireland held on for a creditable victory.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Redmond (Nottm Forest); Coleman (Everton), Moloney (Nottm Forest), Nolan (Preston), Dennehy (Cardiff), Gleeson (Wolves), Meyler (Sunderland), Judge (Blackburn), Garvan (Ipswich), O’Shea (Galway Utd), Sheridan (Celtic). Subs: Henderson (Bristol City) for Redmond (46 mins); Carey (Celtic) for Coleman (56 mins); O’Toole (Watford) for Gleeson (76 mins); Fagan (Unattached) for Judge 76 mins). Goals: O’Shea 37, Judge 58.

SPAIN: Mino, Azpilicueta, Kiko, San Jose, Jose Angel, Jeffren (Niguez 74), Camacho (Michel 74), Parejo, Crosas (Bedia 62), Alba, Bolado (Nsue 74). Goal: Bolado 63. Attendance: 1,760.