Ireland go through in Euros - November 23, 2000
Ireland 6 Turkey 1
Mathematics came to the rescue of the Irish u18 women's team yesterday as they qualified for the next phase of the European Championship qualifiers - but they were made to sweat before knowing their fate.
As the qualifying group went into its last series of matches yesterday the scenario was that the Irish had to achieve a five-goal turnaround over Wales if they were to qualify.
Wales went into their game against England with a plus-3 goal difference and four points in the bag while Ireland faced Turkey with a minus-2 goal difference and only one point in the bag. England, the Old Enemy, had to do us a favour - but it all looked a forlorn hope when the Turks took a surprise lead against the girls in green after only 25 minutes at United Park in Drogheda.
Rabie Istuzen cut inside from the right wing, losing her marker, and drew Emma Merrigan off her line before chipping the ball into the back of the net from just inside the box.
Ireland hit back ten minutes later through Samantha McCarthy and the striker put Sue Ronan's team into the lead four minutes later to send them in at the break with part of the deal done, as England were leading Wales by 2-0 scoreline in the other game.
Ireland ran the Turks ragged in the second half and McCarthy added another two to take her tally to four on the day. Marie Gallagher also pipped in with two second-half goals to secure a 6-1 win. And when the news came through from the other game that England had won 3-1 the Irish knew they were through.
The next qualifying phase will take place sometime in the spring but as yet Ireland don't know who they will be facing, bar Norway.
Ireland: Emma Merrigan (Virginia University, US), Lisa McCormack (Lifford), Marie Curtin (Lifford), Louise Henchy (Lifford/University of Limerick), Elaine O'Connor (Hofstra State University, New York), Eileen O'Brien (Granville Rangers), Samantha McCarthy (Lifford), Debbie McGuinness (Dundalk), Wendy McGrath (St Catherine's), Marie Gallagher (Fanad United), Leanne Bowler (St Catherine's)
Subs: Mary Waldron (Firhouse) for McCormack, Michelle Walsh for Bowler, Emma Murphy (Wilton, Cork) for O'Brien
Turkey: Gamze, Pasalioglu, Gocmen, Cepni, Ozcigdem, Ozturk, Uzelakcil, Istuzen, Yesil, Tut
Subs: Unal for Gamze, Tatli for Ozturk, Aydin for Yesil
Referee: A Tvarijonaite (Lithuania)