UEFA Nations League Group B1
Ireland 0
Ukraine 1
While it was a disappointing night for Ireland in the UEFA Nations League - it’s a night a certain Clonea man will never forget.
Ukraine took the three points on offer on the night thanks to substitute Viktor Tsygankov’s 47th minute winner - but the moment of a lifetime came 31 minutes later for 27-year-old CJ Hamilton when he replaced Chiedozie Ogbene for his first appearance in a green shirt.
A large contingent from Clonea, Carrick and Portlaw alike travelled to the Aviva Stadium to take in the Blackpool man’s big moment.
Ireland came closest to the equaliser in the last fifteen minutes, Shane Duffy crashing a header off the crossbar - and from the resulting corner, Michael Obafemi was unable to convert at the back post from Jason Knight’s flick-on - before Knight blazed over the bar late on with Ireland chasing the game.
They were fortunate not to trail at the break, with VAR ruling out Taras Karachaba’s superb looping volley for an offside in the build-up. Were it not for some heroic defending on the night from Nathan Collins, Ireland could’ve arguably been beaten in a more comfortable manner.
There was no involvement on the night for Hamilton’s fellow Waterford man, Cappoquin’s Jayson Molumby.
The result marks back-to-back Nations League defeats for Stephen Kenny’s side, who will feel aggrieved not to have been awarded a first half penalty when Callum Robinson was brought down in the area by Valerii Bondar.
Hamilton and Molumby will be hoping to be involved on Saturday, when the Boys in Green host Scotland at the Aviva, with kick-off at 5pm.
