Day 2 - HWC Milan, Italy 6/09/2009

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Poland 2 Ireland 7

Dean Donoghue, Limerick celebrates

In one of the best games of the opening day Ireland came from behind - despite having a man sent off – and overcame a physically strong Polish team to run out comfortable winners on a 7-2 scoreline. Poland were first to score taking a 1-0 lead early on but a resilient Irish side hit back through Mark O’Neill. Still Poland looked the more dominant in the first half and went into a 2-1 lead but on the stroke of half time O’Neill again came to the rescue with a deftly taken equalizer.
With the scores level the second half commence at a blistering pace with Ireland looking to take the game to the Polish and gained the upper hand with Limerick’s Dean Donoghue putting Ireland in front for the first time. At 3-2 Ireland looked comfortable and the Poles were beginning to flag but a very harsh decision saw Waterford’s Stephen Mclawence sin binned giving the Poles renewed vigor. Now the Irish were up against it. In street soccer to be a man down is a huge disadvantage. But this Irish team were having none of it and continued to take the game to the Poles. It is a measure of their class that they completely outplayed the Polish side and went on to increase their lead through Derek Daley and Longford's Mike Myers. Ireland were now in full flow with further goals from Myers and O’Neill and with goalkeeper Trevor Owens in command of his goal area the Poles were completely demoralized.
Every player on this side played their part and the coaching staff Mick Pender and Jimmy Bell can be rightly proud of their charges.

Man of the Match
Difficult one it was a splendid team effort but Clondalkin’s Mark O’Neill edged it with 3 goals and an awesome display.

“It was a phenomenal performance, this is the youngest team we’ve ever had but you’d never know it judging by the maturity of their play’

Sean Kavanagh (Management team)

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For more information please contact Sean Kavanagh (0872238108)

	management team look on pensively
Derek Daley celebrates after scoring
	Keeper Trevor Owens makes great save