Republic of Ireland completed a second-half comeback to consign England to a second consecutive group stage defeat at the UEFA Women’s U19 Championship finals.
After Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat by Sweden, things were looking up for Brent Hills’s side when Liverpool forward Claudia Walker broke the deadlock in the 36th minute.
But Ireland, making their debut appearance in the competition, bounced back after the break with Savannah McCarthy equalising just before the hour mark.
England 1-2 Rep. Of Ireland
UEFA Women's U19 Championship finals
Group B
Friday 18 July 2014
Mjøndalen Stadium, Norway
And just when it seemed the Group B match would end all square, substitute Keeva Keenan headed the winner on 86.
With Spain beating Sweden 2-0, the Young Lions must now defeat Spain by a two-goal margin in the final group game on Monday and hope Ireland beat Sweden in order to reach the semi-finals.
Head Coach Hills said: “These girls could qualify for the next year's U19 finals, and some of them, even the one after that.
“They have the unique benefit of having a dry run here. They will not feel it right now, but they are lucky in that respect.
“I thought our quality in the final third was better than against Sweden, that was pleasing. And we kept reasonably good possession, too.
“Congratulations to Ireland, they played excellent football.”
England (4-3-3): 1 Sophie Baggaley (Birmingham City); 11 Ashleigh Mills (Doncaster Rovers Belles), 3 Molly Bartrip (C; Reading), 15 Vyan Sampson (Arsenal), 2 Rosella Ayane (Chelsea); 5 Maddy Cusack (Aston Villa), 17 Millie Turner (Everton), 6 Jenna Dear (Chelsea); 10 Sarah Mayling (Aston Villa), 18 Claudia Walker (Liverpool); 8 Carla Humphrey (Arsenal)
Substitutes: 7 Coral Haines (Birmingham City) for Humphrey (75), 16 Fran Steele (Arsenal) for Turner
Substitutes not used: 13 Kirstie Levell (Everton), 4 Jodie Brett (Chelsea), 9 Rebecca Lloyd (Birmingham City), 12 Elisha N'Dow (Aston Villa), 14 Jemma Purfield (Doncaster Rovers Belles).
Goal: Walker (36)
Booking: Mayling (90+2)
