Rep of Ireland 2-0 England

Nordic U17 Tournament
Laugardalsvöllur Stadium, Reykjavik
07 August 2005, 3pm

England have lost 2-0 to the Republic of Ireland in the final of this season's Nordic U17 Tournament.

Playing in awful conditions - a 50 mph wind blowing straight across the unprotected pitch - the Irish won thanks to two moments of opportunism at either end of the match.

Tom Lyons took advantage of a slight lapse in concentration in England's defence to score after just eight minutes and the Irish held on until the final minute when substitute Killian Sheridan made the game safe.

England's best chance of the first half fell moments before the interval when an error from Shane Redmond nearly gifted Karl Ashton with a fourth goal in as many matches.

Redmond kicked the ball out of his goal but, playing against the wind it fell for Ashton who had the swivel quickly to capitalise on the mistake and get a shot on goal before Lorcan Fitzgerald closed him down.

The Derby striker did well to lob a delightful effort over Redmond but unfortunately for Kenny Swain's side, the ball fell on to the roof of the net.

England continued to apply themselves in a positive manner and throughout the second half they created half chances, none of which quite fell invitingly for the forwards.

Leicester City striker Ashley Chambers, who scored a hat-trick in midweek against the Faroe Islands, shot across the goal only to see his effort come off the far post.

Still England didn't give up and even when the Irish broke away to score a decisive second goal in the last minute, England looked to attack the Irish goal and get out of the game what all their good play deserved.

In the end they just couldn't find a way past Redmond and the Irish held on to win the match and the Nordic Tournament.

England v Rep. of Ireland, Nordic Tournament, Reykjavik, 07 August 2005

Republic of Ireland: Shane Redmond, Lorcan Fitzgerald, Gavin Donoghue, Garry Breen, Karl Byrne (Terry Dixon, 41), Shane Duggan, Michael Daly, Donal McDermott (Killian Sheridan, 70), Stephen Lawless (Mark O'Toole, 80), Corie Treacy, Tom Lyons (Christopher Day, 80).
Subs not used: Andrew Callaghan, Conor Murphy, Vincent Whelan (gk)

England: Alex Smithies - Huddersfield Town; Michael Kay - Sunderland (Jake Thompson - Southampton, 77), Jamie Chandler - Sunderland, Joseph Magunda - Leicester City (capt.), Paul Rodgers - Arsenal (Kurt Robinson - Ipswich Town, 72); Mark Randall - Arsenal, Jordan Spence - West Ham United, Matthew Richards - Derby County (Stephen Connor - Everton, 72), Nathan Porritt - Middlesbrough; Karl Ashton - Derby County, Joseph Mills - Southampton (Ashley Chambers - Leicester City, 54).
Subs not used: Andreas Arestidou - Blackburn Rovers (gk), Joshua Wright - Charlton Athletic, Lee Hales - West Ham United.

Goals: Lyons 8, Sheridan 80

Bookings: Garry Breen, 7; Lorcan Fitzgerald, 26; Nathan Porritt, 35; Karl Ashton, 39; Corie Treacy, 79.