Northern Ireland Regions Cup team defeat Seleccion Catalana de Futbol of Spain 1-0 to qualify for next round of Regions Cup on Saturday past.
The 1-0 win for the Northern Ireland squad in the Regions Cup secures their place in the next round of the competition.
The important goal came from Dollingstown’s Richie Thompson and sent the team through unbeaten in their group with wins over Alf Telenesti (MOLDOVA) 5-1 and Piatykhatska (Ukraine) 4-0.
Eastern Region of Northern Ireland have qualified for their third UEFA Regions’ Cup finals after beating Selección Catalana 1-0 in the decisive game in Moldova.Catalonia had been top on goal difference going into the last intermediary round Group 5 game, having beaten Ukraine’s Piatykhatska 4-0 and hosts Teleneşti 10-0 to Eastern Region’s 4-0 and 5-1. But despite Spain’s representatives creating more chances, Richard Thompson’s ninth-minute goal was enough for Harry McConkey’s determined side, having previously made the finals in 2007 and 2013.
“We played with our hearts,” said Eastern Region of Northern Ireland manager Harry McConkey after the 1-0 defeat of Selección Catalana that took his team into a third finals.
McConkey told UEFA.com: “This is a fantastic victory. We are happy because we won against a strong team. Catalonia played very well, and our guys were nervous. But we showed character, we played with our hearts. This is a big win for our small region. We loved it in Moldova. The organisation was at a high level.”
IFA President Jim Shaw said ” What a fantastic achievement by the squad and his best wishes go to Harry, his staff and all the players. To qualify from a group containg a highly motivated Spanish side Selección Catalana from the Barcelona region is an outstanding result.”
FIFA Vice President Jim Boyce added his congratulations and said” as Chairman of the UEFA Youth and Amateur Committee it gives me great pleasure to hear of Harry McConkeys teams qualification for the finals. To go through a group of 3 matches scoring 10 goals with only 1 against was a great acievement. Nothing would give me more pleasure than to be handing the winners medals and cup to Northern Ireland in the final next year.”. Harry has led the team for a number of years now and has continued to create winning teams. So let’s look forward to the finals and see the team represent our country.
Both Dollingstown Football Club players, Richard Thompson (25) & Jordan Gibson (19) were delighted to be part of the competition:
Richard: What a result! Beating Spain who are ranked 1 In the world In this competition 1-0 and scoring the winning goal unreal. Words cannot describe how great it feels. That’s us through to the finals in june. We we were under pressure for most of the second half but the lads dug deep too see us through. 9 points from 3 games and scored 10 conceded 1. Feels good putting Spain out. The GAWA goes marching on
Jordan: Getting my first taste of representing my country was an experience I’ll never forget! What a week it was, defying all odds and reaching the finals with maximum points! Roll on June !!
Everyone at Dollingstown FC would like to congratulate both Richard & Jordan and of course the rest of the squad who really pulled together as a unit.
Final Table
Final match details
www.uefa.com/regionscup/season=2015/matches/round=2000518/match=2013633/index.html
NI Squad details
The finals of the competition will be held in June 2015 and the location is yet to be decided. The 8 winning group teams all make the finals then one of them will be chosen to host then, fingers crossed they choose Northern Ireland.
Eastern Region NIR
Selección Catalana
Piatykhatska
Teleneşti
Selección Catalana
Eastern Region NIR
Piatykhatska
Teleneşti
