Buncrana's Jodie Loughrey shines as Ireland U-19s secure victory in UEFA qualifier

Buncrana and Sligo Rovers star Jodie Loughrey scored for the Republic of Ireland U-19 side this afternoon in what was a superb victory over Iceland

In an impressive second-half performance, Ireland secured a notable 4-1 triumph against Iceland in the first UEFA European Championship Qualifying Group game.

Dave Connell’s squad initially trailed when Vigdis Kristjansdottir found the net on 36 minutes. However, they swiftly equalised thanks to an own goal from Sigdis Bardardottir on the 56th-minute mark.

Following this pivotal moment, Ireland escalated their performance with intensified pressing and precise passing. Loughrey, demonstrating her prowess from close range, broke the deadlock on the 63rd minute after another skillfully placed corner kick.

Shortly after, substitute Hannah Healy made her mark on the scoreboard, converting a goal on the 72nd minute. Finally, Joy Ralph sealed the deal with a well-executed finish on the 79th minute, concluding what proved to be a highly successful outing for Ireland.

Their upcoming challenge will be against Austria on Saturday, who dominated Croatia with an 8-1 victory in the Group's other fixture.