Clocks forward, welcome to summertime…
Reports of Johnny Kenny’s knee injury appear to have been greatly exaggerated, after Celtic’s January signing from Sligo Rovers – who was stretchered off in Ireland U-19’s 3-1 defeat to England in midweek – not only returned to the starting line-up for yesterday’s game with Portugal, but also scored.
RESULT | Ireland MU19 1-4 Portugal MU19 🇮🇪🇵🇹
Late Portuguese goals eliminate #IRLU19
📰👉 https://t.co/GL3cuKViGW#COYBIG | #WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/GGv6op0c8x
— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) March 26, 2022
Ireland led Portugal until the 78th minute before being harshly eliminated from the UEFA Under-19 European Championship Elite Phase, after a 4-1 defeat to Portugal in St. George’s Park as the Portuguese scored through Chermiti and Silva, before both Joelson – then Chermiti again – scored in stoppage to perhaps give a scoreline that didn’t quite reflect the game.
Kenny who was also joined by Celtic B team’s Bosun Lawal in the starting line-up scored Ireland’s opening goal, when after industrious play down the left Ireland’s Andy Moran hit a shot that rebounded off the bar and fell for Kenny who headed Ireland into the lead.
The result may be bad news for Ireland and Bosun Lawal and Johnny Kenny, given their exit from the European Championships, but the far earlier than expected return of Johnny Kenny following a concerning injury picked up against England is a welcome sight for Celtic.
Kenny after all has been unlucky with both injury and illness since signing from Sligo Rovers, but hopefully now with a clean bill of health and confidence lifted with a goal for his country, the striker can get back to training with Ange Postecoglou’s first team and hopefully see some further B-Team action for Tommy McIntyre’s side as the Lowland League concludes, with a view to making the step up to Celtic’s first team next season.
Niall J
