Under-20 InternationalRepublic of Ireland 2 Italy 0 Ireland manager Gerry Smith was left with plenty to ponder ahead of announcing his squad of 20 for the FIFA World Youth Championship finals in the United Arab Emirates at lunch-time tomorrow after this encouraging victory over the reigning UEFA Under-19 champions at Belfield last night.
Having survived a couple of early attacks when they failed to defend Italian set-pieces particularly well, Ireland broke away to score twice in as many minutes and effectively win the match.
If Ireland were shaky at the back, the Italians were a bit of a shambles and the home side duly carved them open for their lead.
Kevin Doyle got the first in the 18th minute, making amends for an earlier miss when he shot wide after being played through by Glenn Whelan. Daryl McMahon's half-cleared corner was clipped back into the area by Paul Keegan and Doyle was left totally unmarked to score from 12 yards.
Italy were torn apart at the back again within a further two minutes as Ireland took full advantage to double their lead.
Doyle played Willo Flood away down the right for the first time and the Manchester City winger's cross ran through to the back post to be met by David Bell who sidefooted past Berni at his near post to score on his debut.
The second half never came close to providing the openings of the first as a host of substitutions ruined the flow of the game.
Quaori might have got Italy a deserved goal but watched as his 25-yard free-kick came back off a post in the 67th minute.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Murphy (Swansea City); Whelan (Bury), Fitzgerald (Blackburn Rovers), Paisley (Longford Town), Kendrick (1860 Munich); Flood (Manchester City), Bell (Rushden & Diamonds), Keegan (Scunthorpe United), McMahon (West Ham United); Daly (Stockport County), Doyle (Cork City). Subs: Henderson (Aston Villa) for Murphy, Walters (Bolton) for Doyle and Kearney (Cork City) for McMahon (all at half-time), Deane (Charlton Athletic) for Flood (56 mins), Rowe (Shelbounre) for Daly (90 mins).
ITALY: Berni; Piccolo, Creanza, Gastaldello, Franchini; Mannino, Paro, Quaori, Masini; Massaro, Crocetti. Subs: Potenza for Creanza (31 mins), Biancitti for Berni, Bartolucci for Piccolo, Lenzini for Paro, Mirko for Masini and Galasso for Mannini (all at half-time), Stillo for Massaro (55 mins).
Referee: D McKeon (Dublin).
