The Ireland Women's Under-17s bounced back from a defeat to Poland with an impressive 3-1 victory over Scotland in an International Friendly at the Estadio Municipal Sergio Conceição, Traveiro in Portugal Saturday.
Ireland started this game much livelier, keeping possession and moving the ball around quickly.
The first goal came nine minutes in, when a Scotland throw-in was intercepted. The ball fell to Lauryn McCabe on the edge of the box, who took on the strike which landed in the top right corner. Top quality strikes like those must run in the McCabe family!
Ireland kept nice control of the ball, at times passing around the back nicely to build up play.
On 20 minutes, James Scott's side had our second. Lucy O’Rourke played the ball into McCabe in the 10, who played a beautiful through ball into Hannah O’Brien who made no mistake in front of goal.
On 29 minutes, Scotland’s Sophie Black took on the shot 30 yards out, and Enya Carthy did well in the Irish goal to get up high and claim it.
Another great chance for Ireland came in the 42nd minute when a fine strike from Katie Lawlee was tipped over by Thomson in the Scotland goal.
Ireland began the second half on the front foot again, passing the ball around nicely. Scotland did have their fair are of possession, but the Irish defence did well to hold them out.
Scotland went on the counter attack in the 83rd minute, with Scotland’s Captain Husband squaring the ball into substitute Cara Gray to finish.
Three minutes into added time, Aoibhe Brennan played a ball into the box, which bypassed everyone except Lawlee who struck it home sweetly.
The game ended with an Ireland victory, and a much improved performance from the Girls in Green. They play their final game against Portugal on Tuesday at 11am.
Ireland: Enya Carthy; Emma Duffy (Erin O’Shea 82), Keeva Flynn, Clodagh Daly, Kiera Sena (C); Lucy O’Rourke, Anna Hegarty (Abigail Bradshaw 82), Lauryn McCabe (Katie Lawlee 30); Hannah O’Brien (Hazel Donegan 63), Rebecca Devereux (Aoibhe Brennan 63), Sorcha Melia (Amy Tierney 82).
Scotland: Thomson, McArthur, J. Husband (C), G. Robertson, E. Husband, English, Black, Sharkey, Cadell, Tobin, A. Robertson.
