Under-17 International Friendly/Republic of Ireland 1 Italy 0:With James McCarthy donning the the green shirt for the first time, the Republic of Ireland beat Italy 1-0 in this under-17 friendly last night in Whitehall.
All eyes were on the 16-year-old whose club, Hamilton Academicals, have reportedly received a £1.1 million bid from Liverpool, with Chelsea also in the running for his signature.
McCarthy had a quiet first half but began to impose his presence in the second period, running tirelessly and having a say in the centre with a few crunching tackles.
The Italians looked threatening in the early stages and when Alessio Grea's 30-yard strike from an indirect free cannoned off the bar, it was the kick-start the Irish needed.
Ireland's decisive goal came in the 21st minute when a flighted free kick from Shane O'Connor fell to the head of the unmarked Garrett Matthews, who nodded home.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND:Thorpe (Crystal Palace), Matthews (Norwich City replaced by I Byrne, Bohemians 53), Nolan (Celtic, rep Foley, Celtic 40), Joyce (Birmingham City), Honohan (Wilton Utd), McCormack (Man Utd), Scannell (Crystal Palace, rep Daly Man CIty 40), McCarthy (Hamilton Academicals), O'Connor (Liverpool, rep McArdle Sunderland 75), Duggan (Kilreen Celtic, rep Cronesberry, Middlesbrough), K Byrne (Norwich City, rep Kavanagh, Blackburn). Sub not used:D Maguire (Shrewsbury Town).
ITALY:Viotti, Grea, Albertazzi, Tuia (Columbo 79), Marrone (N Rigoni 18), Romizi Marco, Forestieri Fernando, Paloschi ( Zamblera 40), Viola Pacquale (Caturano 44), Masi, Ciano. Subs not used:N Buono, V Nitride, V Fiorillo.
Referee: C Fitzgerald(League of Ireland)
