GREENCASTLE NATIVE ROMA MCLAUGHLIN opened the scoring for the Republic of Ireland in the Uefa Women’s Under 19 Championship Elite Round against Azerbaijan.
McLaughlin, who plays for Peamount United, scored a volley on the turn on 16 minutes to put Dave Connell’s side in front at Tallaght Stadium and then won a penalty in the 3-0 win.
Ireland went down 1-0 against Germany in their opening fixture on Tuesday.
WATCH l Here is that superb finish from @RomaMcLaughlin that has #IRLWU19 leading 1-0 against Azerbaijan #COYGIGpic.twitter.com/HeXUQC90AL
— FAIreland (@FAIreland) April 7, 2016
Hayley Nolan and Niamh Prior capped an Ireland win.
Azerbaijan came very close to opening the scoring when Yaiza Relea rattled the crossbar from 25 yards with 10 minutes on the clock.
After McLaughlin’s opener, Azerbaijan were thanking the woodwork on the half hour when Prior’s cross came off Lucia Sanchez and caught the cross bar.
Ireland had the chance to make it 2-0 before half-time, Derbhaile Beirne collected Sanchez’s loose pass, keeper Sharifova parried away the shot destined for the top corner.
Jamie Finn had a chance to double Ireland’s lead five minutes into the second half, Borukova deflected the ball wide after good work from McLaughlin.
Nolan doubled Ireland’s advantage with a penalty on the hour mark. McLaughlin was foul by Sanchez after her free-kick came off the wall.
Nolan dutifully stepped up and fired the penalty into the bottom right hand corner of Sharifova’s net.
Prior made it 3-0 on 71 minutes, Rachel Kearns’ shot from the edge of the box after a mazy run, Sharifova pushed the ball away with Prior finishing at the back post.
Second-half substitute Kearns came close to adding a fourth, just missing Prior’s cross on 82 minutes and with a drive 60 seconds later which Sharifova held.
The victory sees Ireland move into second place in Group 1 with three points, behind leaders Germany who defeated Poland 1-0 in the group’s earlier game.
Ireland’s final game sees them face Poland in Tallaght Stadium on Sunday with a 2pm kick off.
Republic of Ireland: Dunne, Nelson, Keenan, McCarthy, Prior, Gargan (Kearns HT), Nolan, McCartan, Finn (Nolan 56), Beirne, McLaughlin (Lynch 73).
Azerbaijan: Sharifova, Sanchez, Borukova, Mammadova, S.Ortiz, Jalili (Ozdemir 65), M.Ortiz, Loa, Bakarandze (Mansimova 83), Aliyeva (Teymurova 77), Relea.
Referee: Ana Minic (Serbia).
