Longford’s Goodness Ogbonna the hero for the Republic of Ireland U-17 side
A goal in the fourth minute of added time from Longford soccer star Goodness Ogbonna in the 3-0 win over Scotland in Larne on Monday, combined with a late goal conceded by Lithuania, meant Colin O’Brien’s team pipped the Lithuanians to the final group qualification spot for the elite phase of the European U-17 Championship.
The former Melview FC player in the Longford League and Slashers gaelic footballer is currently playing at underage level for Shamrock Rovers in the National League.
Both Ireland and Lithuania couldn’t be separated via goal difference, head-to-head or goals for/against. It would come down to which team had the least 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 Northern Ireland, 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.
The day had started off straight forward for Ireland. Win their game against Scotland and hope the impressive Northern Ireland could thwart a Lithuania win.
Ramon Martos got his team 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, Michael 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 would be Noonan’s third goal in as many games.
However it would be in a four-minute window the whole complexion of the group would swing. Lithuania conceded in the final minute to bring 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 in the 94th minute that would ultimately put Ireland 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 less yellow cards than Lithuania they finished in second place – sparking jubilant scenes.
Republic of Ireland: A. Noonan, Sherlock, McDonagh (C), Leonard, Canny, Finneran (Brown,76), Martos, McDonnell (Ogbonna, 76), Umeh (O’Neill, 62), Lee (Solanke, 88), M. Noonan
Ireland’s Group 8 UEFA European U-17 Championship Results
Tuesday, October 29 | Ireland 2-2 Lithuania
Friday, November 1 | Ireland 1-3 Northern Ireland
Monday, November 4 | Scotland 0-3 Ireland