THERE was a sense of the good old days at Tolka Park last night. An Irish youths team played with skills and flair, bringing a crowd to its feet on the way to a major finals tournament. Shades of Liam Tuohy's youngsters of a decade or so ago.

Last night it was Brian Kerr a coach under Tuohy, now the manager, whose under-18s delighted a somewhat disappointing crowd of less than 2,000 with a rousing performance that yielded a thrilling win with a late hat-trick from the hugely impressive Barry Conlon. They will take their place at the European finals in Iceland in July.

Ireland troubled the hesitant Norwegians straight from the kick-off with Conlon a constant threat down the middle. He headed just over from a Mark McKeever cross in only the third minute and was unlucky with two further chances before half-time.

Conlon also volleyed inches over from a Paul Dillon cross in the 21st minute. Within a minute, the tenacious and mobile striker dispossessed a defender to drive a shot a foot wide of the far post.

His best chance of the half arrived on 33 minutes when he got between two defenders to power a header straight into the arms of the Norwegian goalkeeper, Kenneth Hoie.

Norway gradually overcame their early nerves and Ireland had a let-off in the 37th minute. Jarl Andre Storbek did well to work a cross in from the right and John Carew, their tall striker, miskicked with only Irish goalkeeper Paul Whelan to beat.

Ireland had an even more nerve-racking let-off 10 minutes after the restart when Whelan hesitated as he came off his line and Kenneth Dokken's lob was desperately hooked away from under the crossbar by Irish captain Alan Maybury.

But Ireland survived the scare and McKeever and Stephen Roche peppered the Norwegian goal with fiercely hit shots before the break-through finally arrived in the 68th minute.

Lee Boylan and McKeever worked a short corner. McKeever crossed and Conlon scored with a powerful header from 12 yards. The goal gave the Irish players the added encouragement they needed and Conlon - remarkably just released by QPR after scoring 19 goals in 23 reserve team games - struck again on 82 minutes, shooting home at the far post after Hoie could only palm away Boylan's well-struck drive.

Maybury provided the cross for the third in the final minute, Conlon again arriving at the back post to sidefoot the ball into the unguarded net.