Cobh Teen Adam O’Sullivan Takes Part In Ireland U15s Win Over Wolves

Cobh’s Adam O’Sullivan

Further to his recent call-up to the Republic of Ireland U15 squad Adam O’Sullivan played his part in the defeat of Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Wolves Academy training grounds. The Springfield Ramblers club extends it congratulations to Adam and wishes him every success in his pursuit of further International honours.

Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 Republic of Ireland U15s 2
The Republic of Ireland Under 15 Development Squad today secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against a Wolverhampton Wanderers select at their opponents’ Academy grounds.The Wolves selection of players was born in 1997/1998 so the Irish performance was even more impressive as a result.

Wolves began brightly and in the fifth minute the Irish goalkeeper Corey Chambers was forced to pull off a reflex save from close range to prevent the Wolves’ centre forward from scoring from a right wing cross.

Ireland then began to grab a foothold in the game, and in the 15th minute Zachary Elbouzedi produced a strong run into the Wolves area only for the oncoming goalkeeper to gather the ball at the winger’s feet. Wolves took the lead in the 17th minute when their centre forward struck home at the back post from a right wing cross, following some good build up play outside the Irish penalty area. Ireland almost responded immediately in the 19th minute, when Steven Kinsella saw his shot from a tight angle on the right of the penalty area well saved at the near post by the Wolves goalkeeper.

The closest that Ireland came in the first half to drawing level came in the 29th minute, when Elbouzedi’s dangerous delivery from a left wing free-kick sailed right the way through the mass of players in the box only to rebound off the foot of the post before it was swept to safety by the Wolves defence. Wolves came close to doubling their lead at the start of the second half when the Irish goalkeeper Chambers was forced into an excellent double save to thwart the Wolves centre forward following a dangerous right wing cross.

Ireland eventually equalised in the 69th minute when Kinsella scored directly from a free-kick on the right hand side of the penalty area – his sweetly struck delivery found its way right through to the back of the Wolves net. And Ireland struck again within five minutes when another excellent delivery, this time from a corner, was headed home by captain Conor Masterson, whose downward header was too powerful for the Wolves defender on the line to prevent from reaching the back of the net. Ireland then saw out the remaining minutes of the match relatively comfortably to secure a well-deserved victory.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND U15 DEVELOPMENT SQUAD: Corey Chambers (St Kevin’s Boys); Ismael Diallo (Corduff FC), Seán Whelan (Lucan Utd), Robert McCourt (St Kevin’s Boys), Conor Masterson (Lucan Utd), Conor Davis (Templeogue Utd), Steven Kinsella (Templeogue Utd), Jessie Stafford Lacey (St Brendan’s Park), Jean Yves Pomme (Corduff FC), Zachary Elbouzedi (Malahide Utd), Brandon Payne (Lucan Utd). Subs: Mark Buckley (Corinthian Boys) for Conor Davis 55 mins; Conor Levingston (Gorey Rangers) for Jessie Stafford Lacey 55; Sam Warde (Mungret Regional) for Brandon Payne 71; JJ Lunney (Malahide Utd) for Seán Whelan 71; Josh Miller (Moone Celtic) for Jean Yves Poame 71; Adam O’Sullivan (Springfield Ramblers) for Ismael Diallo 75. Tommy Holland (Ardcroney FC)