Ireland U17s get off to a winning start with a comfortable 4-0 win over Armenia in Fermoy

Republic of Ireland 4 

Armenia 0

THE Republic of Ireland U17s kicked off their European Championships qualification campaign with a 4-0 victory over Armenia at Carrick Park in Fermoy on Wednesday night.

Mason Melia netted a hat-trick and Cork’s Jaden Umeh stole the show with a superb finish at the end of the first half.

It was a perfect performance by an Irish team that is managed by Colin O’Brien and David Meyler.

Everything started with some neat passing play between Kaylem Harnett and Aaron Ochoa and they released Umeh.

The forward – who came through Ringmahon Rangers’ academy – was unable to control the ball and he ended up giving away a free.

Any feeling of frustration after this was short lived as Ireland began to assert themselves in a way that would last the rest of the game.

A big reason for this was the presence of Matthew Moore in the middle of the park, with the Carrigaline native commanding play through his position in front of the defence.

His work was complimented by the composure of Luca Cailloce in defence as he played passes out and held his own against the Armenia forwards, a group that would finish the first half without a shot on target.

The first real chance came from work done by Ikechukwu Orazi and Melia, and the Armenian goalkeeper stopped this with a reflex save.

The next time the pair created something; it led to the opening goal and Ireland took the lead through a close range finish by Melia.

Aaron Ochoa then sent the ball in from the right and the Armenian goalkeeper came off his line to punch this away before someone in a green jersey could take a could inside the area.

Ireland continued to get forward and create chances as the first half went on; and players like Luke O’Donnell had to watch as the ball was put out for a goal-kick.

Aleks Galstyan was the only Armenian player to try something during the first half and Harnett stopped the forward before he could cross. The visitors did win a free kick; and James Roche cleared Ireland’s lines after Joseph Collins got a glove to the ball.

With the clock winding down; Umeh held his composure inside the area and unleashed a shot that gave Davydov no chance.

Ireland continued to get forward after the break, but they struggled to get through the Armenian defence.

Orazi was one of those that tried to get his name on the score-sheet, and a driven attempt by the striker went out for a goal-kick.

Karen Hovakimyan was sent off after receiving a second yellow card and Ireland capitalised on the space with a cross that Melia turned in, and a penalty in the fourth minute of added time allowed the striker to seal his hat-trick.

Republic of Ireland: Joseph Collins; James Roche, Harry McGlinchey, Luca Cailloce, Matthew Moore, Mason Melia, Ikechukwu Orazi, Luke O’Donnell, Kaylem Harnett, Aaron Ochoa, Jaden Umeh.

Subs: Rory Finneran for O’Donnell (68); William Martin for Ochoa (68), Matthew Murray for Orazi (78), Niall McAndrews for Moore (89), Armenia: Artem Davydov; Henzel Baghoyan, Harutyun Musikyan, Sergey Harutyunyan, Karen Hovakimyan, Vahe Karepetuan, Gary Grigoryan, Gagik Meloyan, Aleks Galstyan, Davit Harutyunyan, Emil Papikyan.

Subs: Aram Aharonyan for Baghoyan (57); Andri Minasov for Galstyan (64), Andranik Hakobyan for Harutyunyan (64), Arame Minasyan for Papikyan (64), Mayis Khachatran for Meloyan (83).

Referee: Jakob Alexander Sundberg (Denmark)