Ireland met a highly regarded Norway team this afternoon in the Fylkisvollur Stadium in Reykjavik and got off to a flying start with a goal in three minutes from Crystal Palace striker, Tom Lyons. Twelve minutes later, Ireland went two up when former Cherry Orchard star Donal McDermott, now of Manchester City, scored.

As is often the case with young players, concentration wavered a little and an opportunistic effort from the Norwegians brought them a goal on twenty eight minutes. The Irish defence regrouped and maintained their discipline for the remainder of the first half.

Manager Sean McCaffrey introduced Wrexham goalkeeper Vincent Whelan for the second half as part of his plan to provide all squad members with an opportunity to impress. Ireland regained their two goal advantage on fifty three minutes when Belvedere striker, Killian Sheridan scored a fine third goal. With his team looking in command, McCaffrey took the opportunity to bring on Chris Day of MK Dons and Corie Treacy of Cherry Orchard for Karl Byrne and Gavin Donoghue.

Ireland received something of a jolt on sixty nine minutes when the Norwegians conjured up a second goal and some anxious moments occurred before the end of the match. The team stayed strong and played out the half assisted by the fresh legs of Mark O’Toole of Tottenham Hotspur and Cherry Orchard’s Michael Daly who replaced Killian Sheridan and Shane Duggan in the closing stages.

In the other Group A match played this afternoon, Denmark had a comfortable 4-0 victory over Iceland whom Ireland will face tomorrow in the Kevlavikurvollur Stadium in Keflavik.

Starting Team:
Shane Redmond
(Nottingham Forest)
Andrew Callaghan, Gavin Donoghue, Garry Breen, Lorcan Fitzgerald,
(Millwall) (Sunderland) (Manchester City) (West Ham Utd)
Shane Duggan Stephen Lawless Donal McDermott
(Fairview) (Cherry Orchard) (Manchester City)
Karl Byrne Killian Sheridan Tom Lyons
(Belvedere) (Belvedere) (Crystal Palace)