Scales solid in draw with Italy Barndarrig man on bench last night
Euro Qualifiers
BARNDARRIG’S Liam Scales played the full 90 minutes in the Republic of Ireland under-21 side’s 0-0 draw in their European Championship qualifier with Italy at Tallaght Stadium last week.
Former Arklow Town FC man Scales, named in the starting 11 for the key game in place of the injured Darragh Leahy, defended really well over the course of the clash in front of a record crowd of 7,231 but had dropped back to the bench ahead of the Iceland game that was played last night (Tuesday).
The sending off of Scales’ International colleague Troy Parrott was one of the huge talking points of this feisty tie. Manager Stephen Kenny said that he believed it was ‘quite harsh’.
‘I thought it was quite harsh,’ admitted Kenny. ‘I wasn’t expecting it. I didn’t get a great view of it; he was trying to take a quick free-kick.
‘Troy is an attacking player; his attitude is always exemplary. I don’t know if he’s ever been sent off.
‘It’s quite unfortunate really. The double blow is it rules him out of our game in Iceland as well.
‘I thought when Moise was sent off, we’d be in the ascendancy at 11 versus 10 but I didn’t expect Troy to be sent off as well,’ he added.
It was Parrott who produced Ireland’s first real chance after 18 minutes. Liverpool’s Caoimhín Kelleher located the Spurs man with a low kick-out and Marco Carnesecchi was forced to save superbly at his near post from Parrott’s rocket.
Referee Manuel Locatelli from Germany would appear to have been somewhat overzealous with his use of cards. He booked both captains after the restart.
Italy manager Paolo Nicolato substituted his two front men, bringing Moise Kean into the action but his clash with Parrott ended both their nights.
Ireland had chances and were certainly the better team but Italy will be relieved to have escaped Tallaght with a point while the return tie will definitely be one to keep an eye on.
Republic of Ireland: C Kelleher (Liverpool); C Masterson (QPR), D O’Shea (West Brom), L Scales (UCD); L O’Connor (Celtic), C Ronan (Wolves) (J Knight (Derby County 59), C Coventry (West Ham United), J Molumby capt (Millwall) (G Kilkenny (Bournemouth 85), Z Elbouzedi (Waterford) (M Obafemi (Southampton 68); T Parrott (Spurs), A Idah (Norwich City).
Italy: M Carneseccchi; E Del Prato, A Bastoni, R Marchizza (C Adjapong 23), L Pellegrini; M Locatelli capt, S Tonali, M Carraro; D Frattesi, A Pinamonti (PCurtone h-t), G Scamacca (M Kean h-t).
Referee: S Stegemann (Germany).