Gallagher helps Ireland to draw in Latvia

10 September 2012 11:28
While the World Cup qualifiers were being played over the weekend, one Burnley player was representing is country at under-19 level as part of their preparation for the UEFA Under-19 Championships.

The Republic of Ireland face three games next month against Luxembourg, Macedonia and Germany in the qualifying group. The four countries will play in a round robin tournament in Luxembourg with all of these games being played over a six day period in October.

The top two in the tournament will progress to the elite round which will be played in early 2013, but the Ireland team played this last game before the first competitive games when they travelled to the Arkādija Stadium in Riga on Saturday to face Latvia.

Luke Gallagher had been named in the Ireland squad for what was four days training out in Riga before playing the game.

He was in the starting eleven in a game that saw Ireland fall a goal behind in the first half through an own goal form Reading's Shane Griffin before Michael Drennan of Aston Villa equalised three minutes later.

Nine of those starting are with English clubs, either in the Premier League or Championship, as were two of the five substitutes used. One of two players from Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Conor Pepper, replaced Gallagher with 19 minutes remaining.

Ireland manager Paul Doolin was delighted with the performance of his players and said there had been some good individual performances, and that included Gallagher who will now be looking for a call up for Luxembourg next month.

Source: FOOTYMAD