Soccer

Ireland U21s' European Championship hopes over

Noel King's U21s went down to defeat against Serbia on Tuesday night  
Noel King's U21s went down to defeat against Serbia on Tuesday night   Noel King's U21s went down to defeat against Serbia on Tuesday night  

REPUBLIC of Ireland U21s’ faint hopes of qualifying for next summer’s European Championships were extinguished as they slipped to a 3-2 defeat in Serbia.

Noel King’s side needed a win to have any hope but found themselves 1-0 down inside 12 minutes in Karadjordje, with Uroš Djurdjevi netting on the turn from eight yards. The Irish had started reasonably well and finished the half on the up, but Harry Charsley and Courtney Duffus both spurned chances to equalise, and they were made pay on 65 minutes when Darko Lazi headed home from close range.

Callum O’Dowda headed home from a Kevin O’Connor cross four minutes later to give Ireland hope, but Serbia went down the other end and were awarded a penalty after a foul by goalkeeper Daniel Rogers on Djurdjevi. The Partizan Belgrade striker picked himself up to convert. 

Ireland kept coming and Sean Maguire latched on to a knock down by Darragh Lenihan to reduce the deficit eight minutes from time, but they couldn’t find the equaliser. The sides meet again in Waterford next month with Ireland now almost certain to finish fourth in the group, while Serbia still hunt the playoff spot.

Meanwhile, Tom Mohan’s U19s made it two wins from two as they came from a goal down to beat Austria 3-1 at Tallaght Stadium. They found themselves behind to Albin Ramadani's deflected 25-yard strike inside 9 minutes, but goals from Thomas Byrne and Zach Elbouzedi had the hosts in front by half-time.

The Austrian goalscorer was sent off just before the break after an off-the-ball incident and Ireland sealed the win three minutes from time when Jayson Molumby struck from close range.

Northern Ireland's miserable U21 European Championship qualifying campaign continued with a 2-0 loss to FYR Macedonia in Skopje. Josh Doherty's 37th-minute own goal and a late strike from Kire Markoski were enough to condemn Jim Magilton's side to their seventh defeat in eight outings.

The unlucky Doherty was helpless when Daniel Avramovski turned a cross into the box and it hit the Northern Ireland man to beat goalkeeper Conor Mitchell as heavy rain fell.

The goal came moments after Shayne Lavery was unfortunate not to score the opener with a close-range effort, which was well saved by Igor Aleksovski. However, Macedonia remained on top and wrapped up the victory five minutes from time when Markoski drove into the box and fired beyond Mitchell.

Northern Ireland conclude the campaign with a trip to Ukraine and a home meeting with France next month.