Irish finish Regions Cup campaign in victory
Credit:
Leinster & Munster finished off their UEFA Regions Cup campaign in San Marino with a 2-0 victory over Northern Ireland’s Eastern Region, the side that ended up topping the table.
James Walsh scored in the 81st minute with a glorious header from 12 yards to put Ireland in front before Ray Whelehan doubled the score in the 84th minute after an excellent cross from Adam Foley.
The Irish side had the lions’ share of chances with Jimmy Carr, Alan McCabe and Whelehan all going close in the first 20 minutes and they continued to carve out a number of chances throughout the game.
Ian Murtagh led the line well for the Irish and was assisted up front by McCabe. The game was delayed for 45 minutes due to heavy rain which saw the pitch become completely flooded and it was a miracle the game proceeded as the first 15 minutes seen another downpour.
The players from Leinster & Munster put in a heavy shift on a mud-soaked pitch and their defence marshalled by Walsh and assisted by Ken Hoey, Paul Murphy and Ross Carrig did extremely well to snuff out the threat from Eastern Region.
The other game saw Jersey beat San Marino 1-0 to finish second. Eastern Region played the better football in the opening two games but had Leinster & Munster taken their chances in the opening games things might have turned out differently. Northern Ireland progress to the finals in Italy with the best wishes of the Leinster & Munster squad.
Leinster & Munster: Brendan O' Connell, Ken Hoey, James Walsh (Capt), Ross Carr, Paul Murphy, Lee Murtagh, James Carr (Barry Kavanagh 74), Adam Foley, Lee Murtagh (Paul Breen 89), Alan McCabe.
Eastern Region: Jonathan Parr, Scott Mc Millan, Jeff Brady, John Boyle, James Cully, Marcus Dallas, Timothy Grant, Jon Montgomery (Daniel Ryan 81), Mark McClelland (Timmy Grant 74), Jason Gillespie, Ryan Moffatt.
Referee: Dimitar Meckarovski (MKD)
