Under-19 World Cup qualifier: A brace of goals from Andrew Keogh and strikes from Paul McShane and substitute Conal Platt got Ireland's qualifying campaign off to its expected good start, despite searing heat of over 30 degrees on a dreadful pitch writes Paul Buttner in Limassol.
Keogh drove in his first goal on seven minutes, beating the offside trap on to captain Patrick Cregg's exquisite ball over the top.
A hosts of chances were missed, including a terrific run and long-range strike from Cregg that came back off a post, before Keogh scored the second on the hour, tapping in from an Ian Morris cross.
Cregg dinked a free-kick over the Andorran wall for McShane to head the third nine minutes later with Platt tapping in goal number four in the final minute.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Randolph (Charlton Ath); Keane (Luton Town), O'Dea (Celtic), McShane (Manchester Utd), Painter (Birmingham City); Collins (Huddersfield Town), O'Brien (Bolton Wanderers), Cregg (Arsenal), Morris (Leeds United); Kelly (Liverpool), Keogh (Leeds United). Subs: Platt (Liverpool) for Kelly (68 mins), O'Donnell (Arsenal) for O'Brien (70 mins), Hayes (Reading) for Keogh (77 mins).
ANDORRA: A Rubio; Sonoza, V Rogriguez, Oliveira, Martinez, J Rubio; A Rogriguez, Puente, Morena, Clemente; Lorenzo. Subs: Nieto, Ramirez for Puente, Martinez (both 84 mins), Alcubierre for Clemente (90 mins).
Referee: J Meggyeriro (Hungary).
