Ireland Reach the Semi-Final Perth World Cup

The Perth Amateur World Cup has been held over the last 6 weekends and see's Ireland qualifying for the Semi Finals where they will take on El Salvador this Saturday the 19th November @ Litis Stadium in Mt Hawthorn 5.30pm Kick off.

The Squad is mainly made up of Shamrock Rovers players with Joe Byron (Coach) & Shane McCarthy his assistant. Shane is also playing in the competition. Joe, Shane & the lads would like to thank Gavin Behan the manager of Carnigies bar in the city who have sponsored the Ireland team. Providing them with a new kit to represent the Nation and some where to go for a quiet pint after the games.

In the Group stages Ireland was pitted against Croatia, Poland, Eritrea & Zimbabwe.

Taking maximum points in all 4 games, saw the Ireland team finish top of Group D with 20 goals scored, and conceeding only the once. Defeating Croatia 1-0 in the opening match, the boys in green made Poland pay with an 8-1 thrashing in the second game. The 3rd group game saw the side run out 6-0 Winner against Eritrea & the last game had a similar scoreline 5-0 against Zimbabwe, all be it with half the team recovering in the stands from the Shamrock Rovers Presentation Awards night the night before.

The Quarter Final was against a young Congo outfit with a couple of our under 18's in their squad & NTC players. Ireland raced out to a 3-0 scoreline by half-time, essentially finishing of the young Congo side. However the Ireland team didn't have it all their own way in the 2nd half with a penalty awarded and converted. With the Congo also hitting the crossbar & post. The 4th goal finally came from Sean Taylor which finished off any hope of the Congo making a late resurgence against the Bhoys. Final score 4-1 Ireland.

The Squad: P.Shiel, S.O'Mahony, P.O'Connor, D.Murphy, A.O'Mahony, S.King, B.Glasscot, W.Pender x2, M.O'Grady, S.McCarthy, I.Stack, G.Mooney, N.Carroll, D.Smyth, R.Cosgrave, S.Taylor, D.O'Riordan.

Getting down to the business end of the Competition Ireland takes on El Salvador on Saturday with the other Semi between Macedonia & Bosnia to be held on Sunday for places in the Final.

Lets get as many people down to follow the lads in the pursuit of the World cup on the back of Ireland qualifying for the European Championships this week. Why travel to the European Championships in Poland & Ukraine next year when you can see an Irish team in Perth in the World Cup. 

Good luck to the lads this Saturday. Will you be there ?