Hats of to Harry; a first international cap at under-19 level, not to be sniffed at!
A great season for Shrimpers striker Harry Crawford continued when he played the entire first half against England Under-19's to gain his first International cap for the Republic of Ireland Wednesday morning.
Harry, or Harrison as the Irish site calls him, (sounds good), was substituted at half-time.
It was both countries first match in the 2009/10 UEFA European Under-19 Championship elite round taking place in the Ukraine. Ireland and England play in Group 3 along with the hosts Ukraine and Bosnia-Herzegovina .
Sadly for Harry, but maybe not if you support the side wearing three lions, the only goal of the game in Kyiv went to England in the 37th minute.
Ireland's John Dunleavy decided to bring down the Blackburn Rovers defender Phil Jones, up stepped Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dean Parrett, who found the top corner of the net with a terrific free-kick from the edge of the penalty area.
Hope Harry wasn't in the wall!
Ireland played well in the second half, their original squad having been decimated by injuries, but last year's runners up England held out to take the points .
This leaves the defeated boys in green having to win both their final two matches to qualify for the final held later in the year in France.
Before the game Irish manager Sean McCaffrey told www.fai.ie: "In my opinion, I think that this age group is one of the most exciting squads that we have produced for a quite a long time. I firmly believe that a large number of the age group will represent Ireland at senior level and at the highest level in the club game."
So carry on the good work Harry, and it folllows on from fellow Shrimper Kane Ferdinand making his Republic of Ireland Under-18 debut last week.
Republic of Ireland: Ger Hanley, Richard Towell, John Dunleavy, Sean McGinty, Shane McEleney, Conor Hourihane, Conor Clifford, Ronan Murray, Conor Henderson, Robert Brady, Harrison Crawford.
Substitutes: Ian McLoughlin, Daniel Kearns (on for Ronan Murray, 46 mins), Shaun Timmins, Stephen McDonnell, Andrew Boyle, Ian McLoughlin, James Keohane (on for Conor Henderson, 86 mins), Karl Sheppard (on for Harrison Crawford, 46 mins).
For a full but maybe not the most unbiast report go here:
www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=100997:
dominant-irish-defeated-by-fortunate-england&catid=4:under-19&Itemid=12
Remaining Fixtures
Friday, May 28
England v Bosnia-Herzegovina (12.00) - FFU Training complex, Kiev
Republic of Ireland v Ukraine (16.00) - Borex, Borodinka
Monday, May 31
Ukraine v England (16.00) - Borex, Borodinka
Bosnia-Herzegovina v Republic of Ireland (16.00) - FFU Training complex, Kiev.
Republic of Ireland Under-19 Squad:
Ger Hanley - Mervue United
Ian McLoughlin - Ipswich Town
Richie Towell - Celtic
Johnny Dunleavy - Wolverhampton Wanderers
Andy Boyle - UCD
Sean McGinty - Manchester United
Shaun Timmins - Birmingham City
Shane McEleney - Derry City
Conor Clifford - Chelsea
Conor Henderson - Arsenal
Conor Hourihane - Sunderland
Daniel Kearns - West Ham United
Jimmy Keohane - Wexford Youths
Robbie Brady - Manchester United
Ronan Murray - Ipswich Town
Harry Crawford - Southend United
Stephen McDonnell - Dundalk
Karl Sheppard - Galway United