McCartan nets as Ireland U19 women see off Ukraine
Mullingar girl Lucy McCartan got on the scoresheet for the Republic of Ireland’s U19 Women’s side last night, as they defeated Ukraine in their second outing in the elite round UEFA Women’s U19 football championship qualifiers.
Midfielder McCartan – also a top Westmeath ladies GAA star – played a full 90 minutes on Tuesday last as the Irish girls lost 2-1 to Scotland after a heartbreaking injury time goal, but the girls in green made no mistake as the east European outfit came to Market Field, Limerick.
Managed by Dave Connell – the FAI’s former development officer in Westmeath – the Irish were dominant throughout, and took the lead after 40 seconds.
Some excellent work in midfield sent Dearbhaile Beirne down the left, and at the third failed attempt to clear Beirne’s cross, McCartan toe-poked past Ukraine netminder Daryna Bondarchuk.
The clincher came a minute from full tine, when a fine pass from U19 player of the year Roma McLaughlin found Saoirse Noonan, and she found the bottom corner to seal the points for the Irish.
The Republic’s next game is against Finland at 2pm on Sunday in Limerick.
Republic of Ireland: McQuillan; Craven, Farrelly (Donnolly, 90), Moloney, Prior; McCartan, Kavanagh; Finn (Noonan, 63), McLaughlin, Beirne; Nolan (Kelly, 81).
Ukraine: Bondarchuk; Kozub, Budaieva, Koleschuk, Derkach; Rybalkina, Polyukhovych; Kumeda, Kozolva, Shevchuk (Hryb, 77); Kuninan.
Ref: A Soeder (GER).