THE Republic of Ireland Schools suffered an unfortunate defeat to New Zealand in a friendly international at Ballyoulster yesterday.
After a bright start Dave Archbold’s side came close on a couple of occasions to breaking the deadlock with Kiwi goalkeeper Alex Corr making early saves from Adam Hanlon and Sean Brosnan.
But the Irish suffered a hammer blow when some hesitant defending on the left flank was exposed by the pace of Tane Gent in the 33rd minute.
Gent ran onto a through ball by David Minshull and fired across keeper Josh Byrne for a fine finish.
Byrne looked solid all afternoon but one momentary lapse in concentration proved costly five minutes later when his error allowed Ryan Cain bundle home a second for the visitors.
Billy Lane had looked Ireland’s most dangerous player in the first half and he was unlucky to see his header from Hanlon’s 40th minute cross sail too close to keeper Corr.
Minshull could have extended the Kiwi lead further in the 58th minute but he poked narrowly wide.
The Irish had made a raft of substitutions at the break and two of those combined to get the home side back in the game in the 65th minute.
Hugh Douglas leapt highest in the penalty area and got his head to a Marwan Azimi corner and finally beat the New Zealand keeper.
Azimi had the ball in the Kiwi net five minutes later but the goal was disallowed after Sean Brosnan was flagged offside just before flicking the ball over the advancing keeper.
Former Irish under-16 international Tim Pilkington might have wrapped the game up for New Zealand in the 72nd minute but his free-kick was well held by sub keeper Marty McGinty.
Brosnan was unlucky not to snatch an equaliser in the 84th minute when he headed against the Kiwi crossbar after knocking on a strike by Chris McBride.
Daragh Walshe had one last Irish chance in the 88th minute but he pulled his strike across the face of the visiting side’s goal.
Republic of Ireland – Byrne; Gaul, Boyle, Cooney, Carroll, Lane, Hanlon, O’Mahony, Murphy, G Shaw, Brosnan. Subs – Douglas for Lane 46 mins; McBride for O’Mahony 46; Nolan for Carroll 46; Dwane for Gaul 46; Walshe for Shaw 46; Azimi for Cooney 59; McGinty for Byrne 70; McInerney for McBride 80
New Zealand – Corr; Pett, M Shaw, Morrison, Doyle, Gent, Biss, Pilkington, Lawson, Cain, Minshull. Subs – Gibbons for Gent 49; Lidstone for Lawson 89
Referee – D Carey (Dublin)
Ends