REPUBLIC of Ireland U19s began their UEFA U19 Championships Elite Qualifying Round Group Four campaign with a thrilling victory over Iceland in Tallaght Stadium with a squad that contained ex SKB players Alex O’Hanlon, Sean Heaney and Ryan Robinson.

Paul Doolin’s side sit top of the group after a double from Sam Byrne clinched the three points while the other teams in the section Serbia and Turkey drew 1-1 earlier in the day.

All four sides are battling to claim the one place in the finals tournament in Hungary this summer. Ireland meet Turkey on Friday, May 30, and then Serbia on Monday, June 2. All the Irish games are at Tallaght Stadium.

Byrne opened the scoring in the 50th minute when he headed home from close range.

The striker, recently released by Manchester United, then headed Ireland’s second goal in the 60th minute when he connected with an excellent corner delivered by Alex O’Hanlon.

Republic of Ireland: Eric Grimes, Noe Baba, Bobby Moseley, Kyle McFadden, Sean Long, Alan Browne, Dylan Connolly, Thomas Mulroney, Sam Byrne, Alex O’Hanlon, Steven McCarthy. Subs: Ryan Goldsmith for McCarthy 76; Colm Crowe for O’Hanlon 90.

FIXTURES

Wednesday, May 28
UEFA U19 Championships Elite Qualifying Round Group Four
Republic of Ireland 2 Iceland 1, Tallaght Stadium;
Serbia 1 Turkey 1, Carlisle Grounds.

Friday, May 30
UEFA U19 Championships Elite Qualifying Round Group Four
Republic of Ireland v Turkey, Tallaght Stadium (7.00pm);
Serbia v Iceland, Carlisle Grounds (3.00pm).

Monday, June 2
UEFA U19 Championships Elite Qualifying Round Group Four
Republic of Ireland v Serbia, Tallaght Stadium (3.00pm);
Iceland v Turkey, UCD Bowl (3.00pm).

This years FAI Under 17 player of the year and former SKB star Jack Byrne made his debut at the weekend for the Irish Under 21 team in their 1-1 draw with Qatar in a friendly in Aachan in Germany, despite being the youngest in the squad he distinguished himself with his performance and looks assured to figure prominently with the Under 21’s for the next few years.

Current Irish International and former SKB player Jeff Hendrick of Derby County just missed out on promotion to the Premiership when they were defeated by a last minute goal by QPR in the Championship play off at Wembley on Saturday no doubt Jeff will be anxious to put that behind him over the next ten days when he is part of the full Irish International squad to play Italy Portugal and Cost Rica in end of season friendlies.