Ireland Boys Under-15s had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Czechia in their opening game of the Torneo Delle Nazioni in Austria.

A late goal by Bohemians’ Adrian Rascau saw Ireland fight back from a goal down in a game where the best chances fell to the young Irish side.

Ireland looked dangerous throughout and thought they were 1-0 ahead after 13 minutes. Shamrock Rovers’ Archie Quinn had the ball in the net  when he was put through by club mate Josh O’Dwyer. Quinn finished calmly but he was surprised as any to see he was flagged as offside.

Quinn then had another great chance when he met a whipped in cross and his angled volley just cleared the bar just on the half-hour mark.

The 35-minute half came to an end with neither team breaking the deadlock but it would be Czechia who would hit the front first after the interval.

Czechia were awarded a penalty and Patrik Pokorny  made no mistake firing in from the spot.

This didn’t deter the young Irish team who continued to chip away at the Czechia defence but it was to be in the final five minutes they began to pepper their opponents’ goal. First Bobby Zeller saw his effort smartly saved after great work on the right by Ethan Kelly. Then Rian Ennis met a free-kick but saw his header just go over.

With two minutes remaining Head Coach Jason Donohue introduced Rascau and he repaid his coach by  finishing off a beautifully crafted move in the last minute to give Ireland the draw they very least deserved.

Next up for Ireland is joint hosts Austria on Sunday afternoon.
 

Ireland: McGarvey,  O’Halloran (Nolan, 51’), Marshall, Ennis, Afonin,  Collins, Daly (C) (Zeller, 51’), O’Dwyer (Rascau,  66’), Kelly, Devereux Lynch (Fay, 51’), Quinn

Czechia: Rucka, Cerveny, Kubicek, Kovarik, Penkava, Havrik, Hrdlicka, Cimpl, Kaplan, Mlcak, Kyklhorn. Substitutes: Hruska, Kostal, Vyzisk, Novotny, Jandora, Hruska, Soused, Pokorny, Serafin, Nimrichter

Ireland Boys Under-15s Squad 

Goalkeepers: Alex Byrne (Shamrock Rovers), Charlie McGarvey (Sligo Rovers).

Defenders: Maxim Afonin (Shamrock Rovers), Rian Ennis ( Shamrock Rovers), Jayden Marshall (Shamrock Rovers), Kimson Kibaga (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Ben Nicholls (Bohemians), Charlie Nolan (Shamrock Rovers).

Midfielders: Aydin Aliyev (SpVgg Greuther Furth), Johnny Collins (Shamrock Rovers), Ciaran Daly (Shamrock Rovers), Blake Devereux Lynch (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Josh O’Dwyer (Shamrock Rovers), Adrian Rascau (Bohemians), Bobby Zeller (Shamrock Rovers).

Forwards: Jonathan Echefu (Galway United), Corey Fay (Shamrock Rovers), ) Ethan Kelly (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Daniel O’Halloran (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Archie Quinn (Shamrock Rovers).

Torneo Delle Nazioni Fixtures/Result

Saturday, April 26 | Ireland 1-1 Czechia
Sunday, April 27 | Austria v Ireland, Hermagor, Austria, KO 16:00
Tuesday, April 29 | Ireland v TBC
Thursday, May 1 | Ireland v TBC