Agony for Scotland as Ireland net last minute winner

A winning goal by Ireland eight seconds from time was a
cruel blow for Scotland as they lost 2-1 in the opening game of the
Celtic Cup in Cardiff.

Barcelona`s Fergus Dunn had two good chances to give Scotland
the lead in the first ten minutes, but the sides reached half time
goalless.

In 50 minutes the Scots did have their noses in front, Niall
Stott started the move with a run up the left, he found Alan
Forsyth whose shot was blocked by the keeper and Kenny Bain`s
squeezed shot flew into the Irish net.

Following this, the Irish pressed for the equaliser which
eventually came with Andy McConnell getting the goal for Ireland
following a melee in the Scottish circle.

Bain almost put the Scots in front for the second time but he
diverted his effort wide of the left hand post.  Then came the
Irish winner from a very late breakaway, with McConnell scoring his
second goal to leave the Scots feeling deflated.

“This was a very disappointing result, again we lost the lead by
not taking our chances to increase it and not defending well enough
to preserve it,” said Eugene Connolly, Scotland`s manager.

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