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Ireland U17s mark historic World Cup bow opener with emphatic win over Panama

Updated / Wednesday, 5 Nov 2025 15:25
Michael Noonan of Republic of Ireland, centre, celebrates with team-mates Ramon Martos, right, and Ade Solanke
Michael Noonan of Republic of Ireland, centre, celebrates with team-mates Ramon Martos, right, and Ade Solanke

Republic of Ireland U17 4-1 Panama U17

The Republic of Ireland made a dream start to their maiden appearance at a FIFA Under-17 World Cup as goals from Jaden Umeh, Kian McMahon-Brown, Michael Noonan and Max Kovalevskis sealed a 4-1 win over Panama on Pitch 3 at the Aspire Zone in Qatar.

Colin O'Brien's squad were the first Boys in Green outfit to appear at a global tournament at this age grade and it was a step into the unknown in Group J, where they have been pooled with Panama, Uzbekistan and Paraguay.

Panama, from the CONCACAF confederation, were first up on Wednesday afternoon and Ireland made a bright start, winning back possession high up in the opposition half more than once in the opening quarter hour.

With Ireland ascendant against a Panama outfit that had already showed small signs of being susceptible to crosses, they took the lead on 17 minutes, and it came from a corner.

Captain Rory Finneran whipped the ball in from the left and Cork native Umeh rose highest to deftly head it into the opposite corner of the net.

After Panama appeared to gain a foothold in the game, Ireland found a second wind after the cooling break in the hot conditions.

Dundalk defender Vinnie Leonard, whose distribution from the back was particularly notable throughout the half, played a long pass into the path of Noonan in the 33rd minute.

The Shamrock Rovers youngster, who is missing the Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup final in order to represent his country on the world stage, showed his confidence with an audacious effort from outside the box which had the goalkeeper beaten but cannoned off the crossbar.

But Ireland would go into the interval two goals ahead. It came on 35 minutes after good work from Noonan's Hoops team-mate Kovalevskis at the edge of Panama's box.

He played a short pass to number 10 Ramon Martos, who in turn teed up McMahon-Brown, and the Burnley man made no mistake as he found the bottom corner of the net.

Ireland made a slow start to the second half but scored a third just before the hour mark as Finneran and Umeh combined before the overlapping Ade Solanke's cross from the left arrived on cue for Noonan to open his account at the tournament.

Three minutes later, Kovalevskis showed tenacity to get to a ball into the Panama box before the on-rushing goalkeeper before sweeping in a fourth.

O'Brien's team were on course for all three points but did not preserve their clean sheet as Moises Richards got in late on and fired a shot beyond Alex Noonan.

Ireland will next face Uzbekistan on Saturday afternoon (live on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player).

Watch Republic of Ireland v Uzbekistan in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup on Saturday from 3.35pm on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport

Listen to the RTÉ Soccer podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Watch the Sports Direct FAI Cup final, Shamrock Rovers v Cork City, on Sunday from 2pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport. Listen to live commentary on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1

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