Ireland U19 put seven past Kazakhs

Republic of Ireland 7 Kazakhstan 0

The Republic of Ireland Women's U19 team began their UEFA Championships qualifying campaign with a comfortable victory over Kazakhstan at Dalymount Park on Saturday night.

While the Kazakhs may be the bottom sides in the group, Dave Connell's Irish side produced some excellent football with a number of players impressing.

Raheny United duo Clare Shine - with a hat-trick - and Katie McCabe - with a double - were too hot a strike force for the Kazakh defence to handle. Midfield general Shauna Newman also made a marvellous game for the Irish.

Ireland started sharply with Katie McCabe bursting through in the second minute but her shot from the edge of the penalty area was well saved by goalkeeper Alina Bobrova.

The Irish eventually turned their domination into a goal when Shine raced through and slotted the ball past the advancing keeper in the 23rd minute.

Kazakhstan's only real effort on goal came just one minute later when Zhansaya Koziyeva attempted a long range effort that floated narrowly over the Irish goal.

Ireland went 2-0 up in the 26th minute when McCabe made a fantastic run from deep and outstripped the Kazkh defence before firing low into the bottom corner.

Class act Newman made it 3-0 in the 30th minute when she fired in a free-kick from 30 yards out that flew into the top corner.

Three minutes later Shine headed home follwing a brilliant left-wing cross by captain Chloe Mustaki and Shine completed her hat-trick in the 43rd minute when she connected with an Amy O'Connor right wing cross.

Shine's goals took her tally in UEFA underage internationals to 13 in 22 appearances and in the 56th minute she was unlucky to head narrowly wide after a very clever Irish free-kick.

Kazakh keeper Bobrova saved a point blank effort from Shine in the 67th minute although she didn't know much about it.

Four minutes later substitute Gemma McGuinness sent McCabe through on goal and she slipped the ball home with ease to make it 6-0.

The seventh goal came in the 84th minute when Mustaki headed home from a corner by Newman.

On Monday the next fixtures see Kazakhstan meet Denmark at Tallaght Stadium (1pm) and Ireland host Greece at the same venue (7pm).

Republic Of Ireland: Jill Maloney; Shauna Newman, Ciara Rossiter, Lauren Dwyer, Ciara O’Connell, Chloe Mustaki (C). Amy O’Connor, Clare Shine, Rachel Doyle (Gemma McGuinness 69), Katie McCabe, Shannon Carson (Aisling Frawley 46).

Kazakhstan: Alina Bobrova; Mariya Demidova, Jamilya Kairbekova (Tamari Nalgiyeva 77), Shokhista Khojasheva, Veronika Korniyenko (Karina Ayazgulova 76), Zhansaya Koziyeva, Kamila Kulmagambetova (C), Yevgeniya Larina, Leila Nurgaliyeva, Anel Yeleussizova (Alexandra Shibkova 27), Karina Zhumabaikyzy.

Referee: Desiree Grundbacher (SUI)