U19 European qualification group

The visitors attacked first in the opening minute, their pacey number seven, Milan Savic shooting over from distance after cutting inside on his right foot. Bosnia & Herzegovina went close again on 5 minutes, this time from a floated free kick. Faris Zubanovic had his shot blocked by Irish Centre Back Lee O’Connor.

Bosnia & Herzegovina, who were the much more physical side caused problems for Ireland. The visitors could have opened the scoring on 7 minutes when Elder Sehic forced goal keeper Brian Maher to pull off a magnificent save from close range.

Ireland could have put themselves in front only 5 minutes later when a fantastic cross field ball to Glen McCauley found space out on the right wing, he pulled the ball back to Adam Idah in the box who’s powerful shot was tipped over the bar by Adnan Kanuric.

The boys in Green had another chance on 16 minutes when Adam Idah got in behind the visitors defence and volleyed from a beautifully weighted free but his effort was once again saved by Kanuric.

The visitors responded when Milan Savic cut inside onto his left and curled the ball towards the far post but his shot was saved by Maher in goal. Zubanovic almost caught the Irish napping when he flicked a backheel towards goal but Maher saved again.

Glen McCauley was causing problems down the right wing. Cross after cross came into the box but Bosnia & Herzegovina deal with the pressure.

Adam Idah went close yet again on 37 minutes when he turned his man and unleashed a low flying shot from outside the box to the right hand side but it narrowly went wide of the post much to the relief of the scrambling Kanuric.

Kanuric kept the visitors in it again with another fine save just before half time when a corner wasn’t dealt with and it fell to Conor Coventry for Ireland and he turned inside and shot across the box but Kanuric did well to leap out and gather the ball before an Irish head could get to it.

The second half came to life on 55 minutes when Conor Coventry, against the run of play, played a magnificent through ball in to William Ferry who blasted past Kanuric in goal top put Ireland ahead!

Bosnia & Herzegovina had a chance to equalize only moments later from a free but Savic’s effort was high over the bar.

The boys in Green went 2-0 up when Jack James was taken down in the box on 64 minutes. Troy Parrott stepped up to take the peno and cooly chipped it down the middle sending Kanuric the wrong way. Ireland were beginning to take control of the game.

Things got even better for Ireland on 73 minutes when Adam Idah finally got his goal after missing numerous opportunities in the first half. The strong forward found himself in space in the box and made no mistake, burying the ball past Kanuric in goal to put Tom Mohan’s charges in complete control.

The visitors got one back on 77 minutes when substitution Mateo Bozic’s free kick was wickedly deflected and left Maher with no chance.

They could have gotten a second back on 83 minutes when a free kick was whipped into the box but Maher did well to gather as the ball flew by bodies in the box.

The boys in green held out for the remainder of the game and look forward to Saturday when they take on the Faroe Islands at City Calling Stadium once again at 3PM.