Irish Under-19 Women hold Spain to scoreless draw in European Championship opener

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Ireland’s Under-19 Women kept the Spanish Armada at bay with a battling performance to hold La Roja to a scoreless draw in their opening European Championship fixture at the Futbolo Stadionas Marijampolėje.

In the same week when Galway United’s Julie-Ann Russell put the ball in the back of the English net, Wexford FC, Athlone Town, Peamount United, Shelbourne, Galway United, Shamrock Rovers, and Sligo Rovers were amongst the Women’s League of Ireland clubs represented as Ireland’s Under-19s took to the turf for their opening Group B game in Lithuania.

Katie Keane, who has shown her mettle for league leaders Athlone Town this season, frustrated the Spanish in 25-degree heat, her gloves the armour that Ireland needed to stop the 12 rounds that were discharged on target.

The Town’s goal minder denied Real Madrid matador Pau with a heroic save early doors before shutting up shop against Athletic Bilbao winger Agote, Adriana Ranera, and Cris Libran as Spain turned up the heat.

Attacker Daniela Agote, who had four attempts on goal, channelled the ‘Paso Doble’ as she weaved and feinted, while 18-year-old Daniela Arques, who plays for Levante Unión Deportiva in Valencia, marshalled the Spanish set-pieces and kept the Irish defence on their toes throughout.

The Irish fans in attendance sat on the edge of their seats for much of the full 90 minutes as Ireland withstood wave after wave of attack, tribeswoman Eve Dossen neutralising the Spanish siege while The Hoops' centre forward, Joy Ralph, roved up top as part of a compact and well-rehearsed 4-5-1 formation.

Aoife Kelly and Maebh Russell also clocked an incredible shift and combined to clear the ball off the line, while we saw flashes of Lia O’Leary’s brilliance on the respective lanes.

There will be no let-up for Dave Connell’s side as the girls in green next face Germany on Thursday (who, in the lead-up to the tournament, netted 16 goals in four games) at the Jonava Stadium, before their final group match against the Netherlands on Sunday at the Arvi Football Arena. Both games kick off at 12 pm on the RTE News Channel.