LEONARD HELPS IRELAND U17S INTO ELITE PHASE

Dundalk FC’s Vinnie Leonard started as Ireland qualified for the Elite Phase of the UEFA European Under-17 Championship in dramatic fashion, going through thanks to their disciplinary record, following a 3-0 win over Scotland in Larne on Monday afternoon.

Leonard made his senior League of Ireland debut for the club just last Sunday week when coming off the bench late on against Shamrock Rovers at Oriel Park, and two days later he was part of the Irish squad for their 2-2 draw with Lithuania in Larne but did not feature.

In that game, their group opener in Round One of the qualifiers, Ireland had led thanks to goals from Brody Lee and Michael Noonan but a brace from substitute Carmine Mennea saw Lithuania snatch a point.

27 October 2024; Vinnie Leonard comes on for his senior League of Ireland debut for Dundalk, against Shamrock Rovers at Oriel Park. Photo by Gerry Scully.

On Friday evening, Leonard came on for the final half-an-hour as Ireland suffered a 3-1 defeat by the North at Seaview in Belfast. An own goal, four minutes into the game, and two second-half goals condemned Ireland to the loss, in which Noonan was on target with a late consolation.

That setback meant that Ireland needed to beat Scotland in Larne on Monday, and hope that the result between the North and Lithuania would go their way. For the crunch clash, Leonard was handed a start by head coach Colin O’Brien.

Ultimately, a goal in the fourth minute of added time from Goodness Ogbonna combined with a late goal conceded by Lithuania meant O’Brien’s team pipped the Lithuanians to the final group qualification spot.

4 November 2024; Vinnie Leonard of Republic of Ireland had a goal disallowed during the UEFA U17 European Championships Round 1 qualifier match between Scotland and Republic of Ireland at Inver Park in Larne, Antrim. Photo by Gerry Scully.

Both Ireland and Lithuania could not be separated via goal difference, head-to-head or goals for/against. It would come down to which team had the least number of yellow cards and it was Irish discipline that would come through.

But for Shamrock Rovers’ Ogbonna’s stoppage-time goal, and a 90th-minute goal from Paul McGovern for the North, O’Brien’s team would be heading out of the qualifiers and miss next summer’s tournament in Albania.

However, they will be in December’s draw for next spring’s Elite Phase for a chance at another European Championship journey.

4 November 2024; Republic of Ireland players, from left, Vincent Leonard, Brody Lee and Billy O’Neill celebrate after the UEFA U17 European Championships Round 1 qualifier match between Scotland and Republic of Ireland at Inver Park in Larne, Antrim. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile.

The day had started off straightforward for Ireland. Win their game against Scotland and hope the impressive North could thwart a Lithuania win. Ramon Martos got O’Brien’s side going with a fine finish after cutting in from the left and finding the bottom corner for 1-0 in the 36th minute.

That would be the score at half-time at Inver Park, but news was coming through from Seaview that Lithuania were 2-0 up on the hosts. By the 67th minute, it seemed to be all over when Lithuania took a commanding 3-0 lead.

Back at Inver Park, Noonan would convert from the spot in the 76th minute to keep Irish hopes alive after Billy O’Neill was brought down in the penalty area. It was Noonan’s third goal in as many games.

4 November 2024; Vincent Leonard, left, and Brody Lee of Republic of Ireland celebrate after the UEFA U17 European Championships Round 1 qualifier match between Scotland and Republic of Ireland at Inver Park in Larne, Antrim. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile.

However, it would be in a four-minute window where the whole complexion of the group would swing.

Lithuania conceded in the final minute to reduce their goal difference to plus one, meaning Ireland needed just one more goal to level up the group. With seconds remaining, Ogbonna netted a third goal for Ireland that would ultimately put them second and in a qualifying spot.

When the final whistle went, Irish players and staff huddled around the centre of the pitch as they awaited their fate. And after some 20 minutes, news came through that due to receiving fewer yellow cards than Lithuania, they finished in second place – sparking jubilant scenes.

The moment our Men’s U17s found out they qualified for the Elite Phase 🙌🇮🇪

Congratulations to Head Coach Colin O’Brien, his players and staff 👏#COYBIG | #IRLU17 pic.twitter.com/VsvjdgRTKJ

— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) November 4, 2024

SCOTLAND: Graham, Glasgow, Carrol (Barr 79), Osborne, Williams (Loney 79), McCallion, Masson (McAllister 46), Smith (Burke 59), Hamill, Hislop (McDonald 56), Boyd (C).

IRELAND: A. Noonan, Sherlock, McDonagh (C), Leonard, Canny, Finneran (Brown 76), Martos, McDonnell (Ogbonna 76), Umeh (O’Neill 62), Lee (Solanke 88), M. Noonan.