Festy featured in two Under-16 ties

FESTY EBOSELE flew the Wexford flag on the international stage in two encounters against Romania with the Republic of Ireland Under-16 soccer team at the National Training Centre in Buftea last week.

Game one on Tuesday resulted in a 3-1 victory for the hosts after the sides were deadlocked (1-1) at the break, with Festy filling one of the midfield roles for the opening 60 minutes.

The Enniscorthy lad played for the full game at the same venue on Thursday when the team went down to a 2-1 defeat in the second clash with the Romanians, having led 1-0 at the break.

The game had been preceded by an unusual situation when the Irish preparations were impacted as the squad had to change hotels overnight due to weather damage affecting their hotel.

However, head coach Paul Osam said that the issue with their accommodation was not overly disruptive as both sides had to change, and he is now looking forward to Wednesday’s meeting with the Brazil Under-15 side at the A.U.L. complex.

In other soccer news, two North End United old boys - goalkeeper Charlie Heffernan and defender Kallum Broaders - capped a memorable week for Waterford F.C. on Saturday when they helped the club’s Under-17 side to lift the Mark Farren Memorial Cup with a 4-2 win over Sligo Rovers.

A bumper crowd of 724 watched the game in the Regional Sports Centre on Saturday, less than 24 hours after their senior side was presented with the First Division trophy at the same venue.