Irish Under-17 girls progress to QF
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
The Republic of Ireland Under-17 girls powered their way into the quarter-finals of the 2010 FIFA Womens World Cup with a stunning 3-0 victory over Ghana on Monday night. Having defeated Canada last Thursday, Noel King’s team needed a win to guarantee progression and the manner of the win will certainly have pleased the newly appointed Republic of Ireland mens Under-21 manager. The team will now face Japan on Friday for a place in the semi-finals.
The Republic of Ireland Under-17’s opened the scoring after just five minutes. Denise O’Sullivan was fouled on the left touchline and Megan Campbell lined up the free kick. With the penalty area awaiting the delivery, the ball instead was floated in above Ghana keeper Margaret Otoo and sensationally nestled in the top right corner of the goal.
Nine minutes before half time, the lead was doubled, and again in spectacular fashion. Ghanian defender Regina Antwi played the ball back to her goalkeeper Margaret Otoo, who played it straight back to the defender who mis-controlled. Stacie Donnelly was first to the ball and fired a powerful strike into the top corner of the net from just inside the penalty box.
One minutes before half time Ghana had a golden opportunity to half the deficit from the penalty spot. Aileen Gilroy brought down Ghana captain Beatrice Sesu and ,after a moments hesitation, the referee awarded the penalty. Grace Moloney dived to the right, but Mary Essiful’s penalty went to the left and wide of the post.
Megan Campbell almost grabbed another goal early in the second half but Otoo got down well to turn the ball wide of the post. Things got even better 13 minutes from the end. Dora Gorman played the ball out to the right wing to Aileen Gilroy. Gilroy took the ball in her stride before unleashing an unstoppable volley into the top right hand corner giving the keeper no chance.
The Irish team celebrated at the final whistle and having lost just once in their three games so far, the team will face a tough Japan side who have also won two of their three games so far, but have also twice put six goals past an opponent in the competition.
Republic of Ireland U17 Ladies team v Ghana:
Grace Moloney, Ciara O'Brien, Megan Campbell, Jessica Gleeson, Jennifer Byrne, Ciara Grant, Aileen Gilroy, Dora Gorman (C), Denise O'Sullivan, Siobhán Killeen, Stacie Donnelly.
Substitutes
Zoe Boyd, Rianna Jarrett, Tanya Kennedy, Kerry Glynn, Amanda Budden, Claire Shine, Harriet Scott, Rebecca Kearney, Jillian Maloney, Emma Hansberry.
Ghana: Otoo, Yiadom, Addai, Coleman, Sumaila, Okyere, Sesu (C)Danso, Essiful, Antwi, Abdul-Rahman.
Substitutes: Simpson, Adams, Djabaah, Okyere, Cudjoe, Antwi, Mailk-Jebdon, Asante, Kolli, Issah.
The Republic of Ireland Under-17’s opened the scoring after just five minutes. Denise O’Sullivan was fouled on the left touchline and Megan Campbell lined up the free kick. With the penalty area awaiting the delivery, the ball instead was floated in above Ghana keeper Margaret Otoo and sensationally nestled in the top right corner of the goal.
Nine minutes before half time, the lead was doubled, and again in spectacular fashion. Ghanian defender Regina Antwi played the ball back to her goalkeeper Margaret Otoo, who played it straight back to the defender who mis-controlled. Stacie Donnelly was first to the ball and fired a powerful strike into the top corner of the net from just inside the penalty box.
One minutes before half time Ghana had a golden opportunity to half the deficit from the penalty spot. Aileen Gilroy brought down Ghana captain Beatrice Sesu and ,after a moments hesitation, the referee awarded the penalty. Grace Moloney dived to the right, but Mary Essiful’s penalty went to the left and wide of the post.
Megan Campbell almost grabbed another goal early in the second half but Otoo got down well to turn the ball wide of the post. Things got even better 13 minutes from the end. Dora Gorman played the ball out to the right wing to Aileen Gilroy. Gilroy took the ball in her stride before unleashing an unstoppable volley into the top right hand corner giving the keeper no chance.
The Irish team celebrated at the final whistle and having lost just once in their three games so far, the team will face a tough Japan side who have also won two of their three games so far, but have also twice put six goals past an opponent in the competition.
Republic of Ireland U17 Ladies team v Ghana:
Grace Moloney, Ciara O'Brien, Megan Campbell, Jessica Gleeson, Jennifer Byrne, Ciara Grant, Aileen Gilroy, Dora Gorman (C), Denise O'Sullivan, Siobhán Killeen, Stacie Donnelly.
Substitutes
Zoe Boyd, Rianna Jarrett, Tanya Kennedy, Kerry Glynn, Amanda Budden, Claire Shine, Harriet Scott, Rebecca Kearney, Jillian Maloney, Emma Hansberry.
Ghana: Otoo, Yiadom, Addai, Coleman, Sumaila, Okyere, Sesu (C)Danso, Essiful, Antwi, Abdul-Rahman.
Substitutes: Simpson, Adams, Djabaah, Okyere, Cudjoe, Antwi, Mailk-Jebdon, Asante, Kolli, Issah.
About Brendan White
Brendan White is Extratime News Editor and is responsible for the news section of Extratime.ie. Brendan also covers matches in Dublin and Waterford. You can contact Brendan on twitter @whitebrendan. View Full Profile