Sport

England's Fleming driving force in deserved win

UNDER-23 INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE TROPHY: Republic of Ireland 1 England 2

PAUL BUTTNER at the RSC
Thu May 27 2010 - 01:00

UNDER-23 INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE TROPHY:Republic of Ireland 1 England 2

IRISH HOPES of progressing to the semi-finals hang by a thread as bad defending was clinically punished in front of 1,570 spectators here last night.

With just three teams in Group Two of the International Challenge Trophy, this result means Ireland travel to Estonia in September needing a win to stay in the competition ahead of England hosting the Estonians the following month.

In truth, Ireland can have few complaints as they looked a little disjointed, as England, with Andrew Fleming excellent in midfield, showed more composure and took their chances while the home side wasted most of theirs.

READ MORE

Ireland manager Paul Doolin made four changes form the side that played the senior international development squad last week. Dundalk pair Garry Breen and Ross Gaynor started along with Paul Byrne of St Patrick’s Athletic and Shamrock Rovers midfielder James Chambers.

But England, with Wrexham’s Fleming smartly stringing everything together, started better.

Scrappy defending gifted England the first chance of the night on 13 minutes when Ireland left back Connor Powell did well to get his body in the way of Amari Morgan-Smith’s shot.

Within a minute, Ireland might have been in front, though.

Powell swept the ball down the line for the run of James Chambers. He picked out Ronan Finn in the box and the Sporting Fingal schemer toed wide of the post.

But Fleming hit the woodwork and then put England in front on 27 minutes. Central defender Kyle McFadzean’s long diagonal ball put left back Sean Newton away down the left and Fleming’s looping header first came back off the bar.

Scarcely a minute later, Ireland skipper Stephen O’Donnell slipped under pressure from Max Porter and the England midfielder played in Fleming who calmly shot home from the edge of the area.

England doubled their lead on 63 minutes when Fleming’s corner was headed down by Tom Cadmore for Porter to drill home.

Paddy Madden gave Ireland hope within three minutes when skipping through on to Gary McCabe’s pass to score.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND:Quigley (Sporting Fingal); Mulcahy (Cork City), Breen (Dundalk), Browne (Sporting Fingal), Powell (Bohemians); Chambers (Shamrock Rovers), O'Donnell (Galway United), Finn (Sporting Fingal); Gaynor (Dundalk), Byrne (St Patrick's Athletic), Dennehy (Shamrock Rovers). Subs:Kelly (Dundalk) for Browne (36 mins), Amond (Bohemians) for Byrne (half-time), McCabe (Sligo Rovers) for Gaynor (59 mins), Bolger (UCD) for O'Donnell (64 mins), Amond (Sligo Rovers) for Finn (86 mins).

Referee:Alan Kelly (Cork).