Republic win opener at Iveagh Park

Isle of Man 0

THE Umbro Quadrangular Tournament got under way at Iveagh Park on Wednesday evening last and the occasion at Rathfriland FC was matched the bright spring evening.

With Iveagh Park in probably the best condition of its 48 year history the game kicked off with the Republic applying most of the pressure and creating most of the chances with their number 20 thumping the crossbar.

The Isle of Man competed well and had chances but late in the second half the Republic of Ireland broke up the right side and centred with the number nine making it 1-0 with a downward shot.

In the end it finished 1-0 to the Republic and whilst there was only one goal, this was a decent game of football at what can certainly be described as ‘the Wembley of the Mournes’.

ISLE OF MAN – Mark Blair, Julian Ringham, Daniel Lace, Sean Quaye (Capatin), Michael Baker, Marc Kelly, Frank Jones, Nick Hurt, Johnny Myers, Ciaran McNulty, Chris Bass. Subs: Steve Riding, Adam Gregeen, Daniel Bell, James McStay, Lee Gale, Josh Kelly, Alex Harrison, Max Thomas.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND – David Conroy, Connor Dillon, Michael Coady, Brian Buckley, James Walsh (Captain), Seanie Crowe, Wayne Fitzgerald, Tony Scully, David Lacey, Thomas Fitzgerald, Ger McCarthy. Subs: Ross Carrig, Paul Breen, Keith Hartnett, Eoin Hanrahan, Adrian Walsh, Stephen O`Mahony, Michael Duffy, Ross Cosgrove, Niall Andrews.

REFEREE: Andrew Davey (Northern Ireland); ASSISTANT REFEREES: Tony Sharkey, David Hamilton (Northern Ireland); FOURTH OFFICIAL: Tim Marshall (Northern Ireland).