A brace of second-half goals were enough for Don Givens’ U21s to record their second win of UEFA U21 Championship Group 10, and their second 2-0 victory in-a-row following September’s beating of Russia, against hosts Switzerland in Neuchatel this evening.
Givens, who will sign a new two-year deal with the FAI on his return to Dublin, was back at the Stade de la Maladiere, a ground in which he coached local club Xamax in the late eighties.
Debutante Walters had hit the bar with a volley in the first-half before the Swiss should have taken the lead three minutes after the interval. Striker Johan Vonlanthen played in his partner Andre Muff but he managed to shot wide of Dan Connor’s goal when a goal seemed on.
The Irish took the lead on 61 minutes when a well-aimed free found Tottenham full-back Stephen Kelly on the right flank and his deep cross saw Walters head powerfully home from eight yards.
The Republic’s second saw Shelbourne midfielder Wes Hoolahan involved and he whipped in a pin-point corner from under the main stand for Walters to once again head to the Swiss net from close range.
The Liverpool-born striker received a standing ovation from a large Irish attendance with eight minutes remaining.
Filed by Barry J Whyte
