Ireland Under-17s suffer 5-1 defeat to dominant Poland in European Championship opener

A fantastic start fizzled out into a disastrous afternoon as the Ireland U17s suffered a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of a far superior Polish outfit on the opening day of the U17 European Championships in Hungary.

Hopes were high for the Irish youngsters in Budapest after an impressive elite qualifying campaign, but they were heavily punished for passive defending and a lack of intensity. They were outplayed at set pieces and in midfield by a free-flowing Poland.

Ireland have little time to feel sorry for themselves and must dust themselves off for a crucial clash with Wales on Saturday in Group A. After a scrappy opening to proceedings, Colin O’Brien’s charges hit the front with a superb team goal in the fifth minute.

St Patrick’s Athletic starlet Mason Melia, a recent topic of conversation among many Irish fans, played a defense-splitting pass into the path of Shamrock Rovers teen Najemedine Razi to set Ireland on the break.

Razi looked up and crossed for Ikechukwu Orazi, who turned home at the second attempt. Fifteen-year-old Melia, who became Pat’s youngest ever player last week versus Drogheda United, was the bright spark on a harrowing afternoon for the U17s. A notable feature of the match was that 18 League of Ireland players made up the 20 player squad.

The Irish defense was frantic at times, and they had goalkeeper Jason Healy to thank for a smart save to deny Igor Brzyski after pinball in the box from a Polish corner.

Overall, the Polish response to going a goal behind was gallant, and they were deservedly level in the thirteenth minute when Mateuzs Skoczylas curled home from inside the area. It was poor defending from an Irish perspective as Stanley Ashbee was outmuscled while attempting to see the ball behind for a goal kick.

The Poles were in complete control and Hull City’s Ashbee was the culprit again for some passive defending as Oskar Tomczyk was played through on goal. However, when facing Healy, he inexplicably dragged his shot wide in what was a huge let off for Ireland.

Ireland were unconvincing in their own box, and their passive nature was almost punished again as center back Jakub Krzyzanowski was allowed to take the ball down, turn, and shoot in the box, but fortunately for the Boys in Green, the ball clipped the crossbar.

A last-ditch intervention from Freddie Turley prevented Poland from going 2-1 up before Corey O’Sullivan headed off the line from a Karol Borys bicycle kick after more pinball in the Irish box from a corner. Ireland were desperately clinging onto Poland's coattails, and Healy had to spread himself to turn away a long-range effort.

Ireland deservedly fell behind from a seemingly innocuous free kick. A straight ball in from the Poles was flicked on by Dominik Szala just before the interval as the luck of the Irish ran out from set plays. It was a shocking goal to concede, but Ireland had looked extremely frail from placed balls.

The game was taken away from Ireland less than five minutes into the second half, and it was another soft goal resulting from passive defending.

Skoczylas fired a powerful strike from the edge of the area through a couple of Irish bodies and past Healy. Ireland were chasing shadows, and hopes of a comeback quickly transformed into a damage limitation exercise after Borys cut inside and unleashed a rocket past Healy from 25 yards.

A double change and a switch to a 3-5-2 didn’t stop the bleeding for Ireland who shipped a fifth goal and another long range strike from Polish sub Szymon Kadziolka.

Republic of Ireland U17: Jason Healy; Stanley Ashbee, Jake Grante, Kaylem Harnett (Matthew Moore 46), Cory O’Sullivan, Freddie Turley; Luke Kehir (Romeo Akachukwu 55), Daniel McGrath, Razi Najemedine; Mason Melia, Ikechukwu Orazi (Nickson Okosun 55).
Subs not used: Joe Collins, Daniel Babb, Matthew Murray, Rhys Bartley, Taylor Mooney, Ademide Solanke.