An exhibition in finishing from Republic of Ireland B strikers Neale Fenn and Daryl Clare threatened to demoralise a National League selection and end this representative match as a contest before it had hardly begun at the Carlisle Grounds last night.
However, having fallen behind to a confidence-draining three goals within the opening 13 minutes, Dave Barry's side showed admirable spirit and resourcefulness to recover and make a match of it.
Crucially, the damage to the National League was done before any pattern was set. A clinical two-goal burst from Lincoln City's Fenn inside the opening three minutes gave the National League side a nightmare start. A farcically conceded third goal from Clare further sapped the National League's morale as the game threatened to degenerate into a rout.
To their credit, the National League got back into the game before half-time with a goal from Derek Coughlan.
Ireland B scored with their first attack of the game in the second minute. Fenn played a one-two with winger Steve Finnan up the right, received the return and shot superbly past Steve Williams from just inside the area.
Barry's selection found themselves in further trouble within a minute. Matt Holland hounded Ollie Cahill into an error and Finnan again provided the telling ball to put Fenn through. Aided by a slip by the National League's Declan Daly, Fenn capitalised to nonchalantly shoot, this time with his left foot, past Williams from the edge of the area.
Another unforced error by the National League side gifted Ireland B a third on 13 minutes. Coughlan stumbled over the ball and Fenn, fully alert to the opening, played the ball through for Daryl Clare who finished delightfully, chipping the ball over the committed Williams.
Creditably, the National League gradually got into the game and were rewarded with a goal from their sixth corner on 40 minutes.
Ireland B goalkeeper Dean Kiely struggled with Trevor Molloy's in-swinging corner and miscued a punched clearance. Coughlan, making full amends for his earlier error, scooped the ball into the roof of the net.
As if to suggest they could up their game at any time, Ireland B came out and regained their three-goal lead within six minutes of the restart. Finnan, after another surging run up the right, put the ball on a plate for Clare to shoot home his second goal of the match with a side-foot shot from 12 yards.
An awkward challenge by Paul Butler on Trevor Molloy after 56 minutes resulted in a successfully converted penalty from Eddie Gormley. The goal gave the National League renewed hope.
Tony Cousins, on the field just four minutes, scored an excellent third goal for the National League on 62 minutes. Derek Tracey supplied him and Cousins held off the challenge of the unimpressive Butler and shot low to the corner of the net.
Buoyed by their recovery, the National League might well have earned an unlikely draw with a glorious chance in the 78th minute. Played in by Cousins' precise pass, Molloy should have scored, but was outfoxed by Nicky Colgan who gathered well at the striker's feet.
Republic Of Ireland B: Kiely (Bury); Worrell (Blackburn Rovers), Butler (Sunderland), Quinn (Brentford), Hardy (Wrexham); Finnan (Fulham), Holland (Ipswich Town), Whalley (Bradford City), Moore (Middlesbrough); Fenn (Lincoln City), Clare (Grimsby Town). SUBS: Colgan (Bournemouth), Savage (Northampton) and Kavanagh (Stoke City) for Kiely, Whalley and Holland (all at half-time), Scully (Queens Park Rangers) for Fenn (72 mins).
National League XI: Williams (Dundalk); Daly (Cork City), Hill (Cork City), Coughlan (Cork City), Cronin (Cork City); Tracey (Shamrock Rovers), Osam (St Patrick's Athletic), Gormley (St Patrick's Athletic), Cahill (Cork City); Coyle (Derry City), Molloy (St Patrick's Athletic). SUBS: Freyne (Cork City) and A Lynch (UCD) for Osam and Hill (both at half-time), R Baker (Shelbourne) for Cronin (53 mins), Cousins (Shamrock Rovers) for Coyle (58 mins), Mooney (Cork City) for Williams (80 mins).
Referee: G Perry (Dublin).
