Under 18

 

Ukraine put three goals past an experimental Republic of Ireland side without reply at the Under-18 Jezek International Tournament in Czech Republic on Thursday.

 

 

The opening half hour was mostly nip and tuck with neither side able to penetrate on a consistent basis.

 

 

Ukraine did open the scoring on 32 minutes through Kvashuk but Ireland were awarded a penalty ten minutes later which Patrick Bamford, making his first start in an Irish jersey, had saved to keep daylight between the nations.

 

 

It was soon 2-0 though as Yefremov stroked home in first half stoppage time and Bratkov added a third 16 minutes from the finish.

 

The Irish will conclude the week's activities by facing Hungary in Saturday's 5th/6th place play-off.

 

 

Republic of Ireland U18: Matthew Gledhill (Portsmouth); Joe Rafferty (Liverpool), Michael Barker (Belvedere), Neil Byrne (Nottingham Forest), Conor Earley (Shamrock Rovers); John O'Sullivan (Blackburn Rovers), Michael Keane (Manchester United), John Mountney (Ballina Town), Kevin Knight (Leicester City); Connor Smith (Watford), Patrick Bamford (Nottingham Forest).

Substitutes: Daniel Purdy for Smith (38 mins - inj), David Lynch (Burnley) for Keane, Aiden O'Brien (Millwall) for Bamford (both h/t).