Video of penalty shootout:
Match report:
The Ireland Men’s Deaf Football team qualified for next summer’s Deaflympics in Bulgaria with a shock victory over a hotly fancied German team in Hannover today. The result was sealed in a dramatic penalty shootout win when the game finished 1-1 after extra time. This was a true ‘against the odds’ victory for the Irish warriors, overcoming a slow start when they went behind and being reduced to 10 men but the players showed tremendous belief and character to secure a famous success.
Ireland opened nervously as Germany controlled the initial stages knocking the ball around with confidence and a series of long passes caused difficulty within the Irish rear-guard. Germany had threatened to score on several occasions before they took the lead in the 40th minute, although the Irish also had chances of their own in the first period with Jonathan Cosgrave twice forcing great saves from the German keeper and Richard Dougherty finding the side netting from Andrew Wynne’s teasing cross. Ireland were relieved however to only go in at the break 1-0 in arrears. Some stern words at half time allied to tactical switches and it was a rejuvenated Ireland that started the second half. Suddenly Germany were on the back foot as Ireland dominated possession and poured forward in numbers. The German goal led a charmed life as Cosgrave hit the post from close range and had a goal disallowed while Bobby McAra, Eamon Byrne and Dougherty had stonewall penalty appeals turned around. The Irish were playing with true flair and passion now and the equaliser was only a matter of time in arriving, Mark Sinclair did brilliantly on the left flank evading two German defenders and crossing for Andrew Wynne to hammer the ball home at full stretch from 8 yards out on the hour mark for 1-1. Ireland continued to dominate before yet another controversial refereeing decision saw them reduced to 10 men in the 70th minute. A German forward collided with Roy McKee in an innocent looking exchange but a second yellow card was produced to add difficulty to the Irish task and with superiority of numbers Germany came back into the game. Ireland defended well to see out the 90 minutes and the additional 30 minutes of extra time, every player battling as though their lives depended on it. Ireland approached the penalty shootout with confidence; Wynne rattled home the first penalty which was followed by textbook kicks from Darren Dunne, Bobby McAra and Mark Sinclair. Keeper Roy Keating produced an excellent save from the second German penalty so it was left to Noel O’ Donnell to claim the glory hammering home Ireland’s fifth successful spot kick into the bottom corner of the net to spark the wildest of celebrations among the Irish players and fans.
This was a true team effort and Ireland had heroes all over the park. Roy Keating produced a number of vital saves including his shootout heroics, while the often over-worked back four of McAra, O’Donnell, McKee and Stuart Foy were simply outstanding. Barry Campbell battled well in the first half before being sacrificed for a more attacking formation with Eamon Byrne making a telling impact and being unlucky not to score. Dougherty went from strength to strength as the game progressed with Andrew Wynne narrowly edging Darren Dunne to the ‘man of the match’ award, after both returned fantastic performances. Jonathan Cosgrave was brilliant at all times working his socks off for the good of the team while substitutes Mark Sinclair and Eoin Burns both played vital roles in the team’s success, covering a huge amount of ground. Unused substitutes Stephen Millar, Michael Walsh and Kevin Dudley contributed greatly to the positive morale of the trip and all will be key players in the future.
Assistant manager Geoffrey Foy admitted he was ‘shattered’ after the game. ‘There was everything out there today’ he remarked, ‘it was an emotional roller coaster but the lads kept battling, they turned things around and they never gave up. I am immensely proud of each and every one of them and we are all proud Irishmen tonight’.
The team would like to thank Deaf Sports Ireland for supporting the squad and also to FAI for their tremendous support for Deaf/Disability football. Bewley’s Dublin Airport hotel deserve special mention for sponsoring the team and thanks is also extended to coaches Jamie Wilson and Reggie Dornan, Martin Clenaghan from Fusion Physio Belfast and also Belfast City Council. The team are also grateful for all the messages of goodwill from supporters back home and already thoughts are turning to Bulgaria 2013.
END
Paul Ryder
Administrator/Sports Development Officer
Deaf Sports Ireland, Deaf Village Ireland, Ratoath Road, Dublin 7, Ireland.
Mobile: +353 87 1349877 (Text Only) Fax: +353 1 850 0499 Email: [email protected] Web: www.deafsportsireland.com