- Andrew Dempsey
- Thu, Jun 06 2019
Stephen Kenny’s Republic of Ireland U21 side have granted themselves every possible opportunity of qualifying to the knockout stages of the Toulon Tournament with a hard-fought draw against Mexico.
A win versus Bahrain on Sunday would mean that the Boys in Green would qualify for the semi-final stage of the competition due to take place next week.
Ireland, who came into the game off the back of an excellent 4-1 win against China in their Group C opener made one change from their opening day win.
Aaron Connolly, who impressed against the Chinese, dropped to the bench due to illness as former UCD winger Simon Power was promoted to the starting eleven.
The Boys in Green got off to a sluggish enough start during the opening ten minutes before Jayson Molumby saw his long-range sighter test an untroubled Jose Hernandez in the Mexican goal.
Molumby’s effort appeared to instil a bit of life into the Boys in Green and through Adam Idah, they really should have taken a first half lead after twenty minutes.
The Norwich City striker got on the end of a cross from the right with a deft touch before his shot let him down at the last moment, where the Cork native dragged his effort well wide across the face of the goal.
Stephen Kenny’s side continued to press and through Power, they had a great opportunity to take the lead on the half-hour mark.
Connor Ronan found the Norwich winger who spent the majority of last season on loan with FC Dordrecht in the Dutch Eredivisie.
However, the 20-year-old was unable to get any clean contact on the ball as Hernandez saved comfortably.
Mexico, for all the talk surrounding their apparent quality, struggled to threaten the Boys in Green rear-guard led by Dara O’Shea and Conor Masterson with Fernando Beltran’s poor strike failing to test Caoimhin Kelleher in the Irish goal.
With so much on the line for both sides, the second period was a very tense, and ultimately dour affair.
Mexico came closest to scoring through Jairo Torres’ thundering free kick which crashed off Kelleher’s crossbar on the hour mark.
Molumby continued to impress in the middle of the park along with his partner Conor Coventry as chances were at a premium for both sides with both Mexico and Ireland’s defensive structure proving to hold the upper hand.
Sub Aaron Connolly threatened on occasions, but it was Mexican sub Eduardo Aguirre who had the best chance of the remaining ten minutes with his shot being blocked before it could trouble the Irish ‘keeper.
Wolves attacking playmaker Ronan almost scored direct from a corner-kick which Hernandez flapped clear as neither side could find a breakthrough in the end.
It was a highly polished performance from Kenny’s young guns who now know that should they secure a win on Sunday against Bahrain; they will secure their passage to the semi-finals.
For Mexico; the message is the same, but they will have to better the result of the Boys in Green on Sunday against China should they harbour any hopes of going through as group winners.
Republic of Ireland U21: Caoimhin Kelleher; Darragh Leahy, Conor Masterson, Lee O'Connor, Dara O'Shea; Conor Coventry, Zack Elbouzedi, Jayson Molumby, Simon Power (Aaron Connolly, H/T); Adam Idah (Aaron Drinan, 83), Connor Ronan.
Subs not used: Josh Barrett, Canice Carroll, Conor Kearns, Jason Knight, Jamie Lennon, Stephen Mallon, Liam Scales, Jack Taylor, Tyreke Wilson.
Booked: Dara O’Shea (60), Jayson Molumby (74).
Mexico U22: Jose Hernandez; Jesus Angulo, Gerardo Arteaga, Ismael Govea, Alan Mozo; Erick Aguirre (Francisco Sebastian Cordova, 86), Fernando Beltran (Pablo Cesar Lopez, 73), Jose Joaquin Esquivel, Jairo Torres, Paolo Yrizar (Ulises Cardona, 79); Jesus Godinez (Eduardo Aguirre, 70).
Subs not used: Cristian Calderon, Ulises Cardona, Ronaldo Cisneros, Sebastian Jurado, Alan Medina, Adrian Mora, Marcel Ruiz, Brayton Vazquez.
Booked: Alan Mozo (41).
Referee: Felipe González Alveal (Chile).
ExtraTime.ie Player of the Match: Jayson Molumby (Republic of Ireland U21).
