Republic of Ireland 1-0 Netherlands

IRELAND'S U19 side began their season with a well-earned 1-0 victory over the Netherlands at Tallaght Stadium this evening.

Holland were coached by Ajax and Lazio legend Aron Winter but Ireland U19 head coach Paul Doolin was the happier boss afterwards as his side produced a very well-disciplined display.

The Irish took the lead through a first half penalty from Eoghan Stokes and they defended brilliantly afterwards.

Leeds United youngster Stokes had started the game impressively and came close to grabbing the opener after just two minutes when he curled narrowly wide from just outside the penalty area.

Just 60 seconds later Reece Grego-Cox showed his pace down the right wing and was only denied a goal by Dutch keeper Michael Verrips, who saved at his feet.

Home keeper Liam Bossin made a brilliant point blank save to deny Jari Schuurman in the sixth minute after a right wing cross by Tarik Kada flew across the goal face.

Ireland were very unlucky not to score in the 17th minute when Joel Coustrain burst through on goal and Verrips had to parry his clipped effort onto an upright before the ball trickled wide.

Stokes eventually did break the deadlock in the 25th minute when he steered home away from the penalty spot after Josh Cullen was fouled by Tarik Kada.

Kada came close to levelling in the 33rd minute with a low strike from just outside the box that Bossin got down well to push around an upright.

Three minutes into the second half Galway FC's Ryan Manning fired narrowly wide from outside the box.

Despite plenty of possession the home defence was not unduly troubled throughout the second half and in the 79th minute good skill by Harry Charsley saw him cut in from the left and fire goalwards. Verrips made a decent stop.

In the 80th minute the impressive Joel Coustrain was unlucky not to crown his performance with a goal when he fired into the side netting after good set-up play by Stokes.

Sub keeper Harry Doherty ensured Ireland the victory with an 86th minute stop from a long distance effort by Bilal Ould-Chikh.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Liam Bossin, Noe Baba (C), Bobby Moseley, Fiacre Kelleher, Kevin Toner, Connor Dimaio, Reece Grego-Cox, Josh Cullen, Ryan Manning, Eoghan Stokes, Joel Coustrain. Subs: Chris Flanagan for Cullen 46 mins; Harry Charsley for Dimaio 46; Cieron Keane for Moseley 46; Ross Mann for Grego-Cox 70, Harry Doherty (GK) for Bossin 79; Shaun Donnellan for Kelleher 79; Sean Burke for Coustrain 84.

NETHERLANDS: Michael Verrips, Terry Lartey Sanniez, Jerry St. Juste, Abdul Bai Kamara, Roland Baas, Jairo Riedewald, Tarik Kada, Cihat Celik, Pelle van Amersfoort, Jari Schuurman, Steven Bergwijn. Subs: Damien van Bruggen for St. Juste 46; Donny van de Beek for Kamara 46; Richairo Zivkovic for van Amersfoort 46, Suently Alberto for Baas 64; Kenneth Paal for Celik 70; Bilal Ould-Chikh for Kada 70; Leeroy Owusu for Riedewald 86.

Hear Paul Doolin's thoughts on the game here