AJ O’Connor and Chris Smith Feature for Ireland in Third Straight Win

Limerick District League duo AJ O’Connor and Chris Smith both started for Gerry Davis Ireland Amateur side during their 0-1 victory over Northern Ireland in Dungannon on Wednesday evening. Newmarket Celtic player and Ireland captain on the night Eoin Hayes scored the winning goal with a right footed effort to make it three wins in a row for the Republic of Ireland in the Regions Cup following back-to-back victories over Wales last month.

It is a quick turnround once more for Ireland as they host their Northern counterparts at Whitehall on Wednesday night as they look to continue their winning run. When speaking to Eamon Scott of Striker Online after the game, manager Davis said,

“It’s always great to win and it was a very tough game. It was played at a very tempo, and it was a physical game. It was a really good test for us.”

AJ O’Connor has been an ever present in the squad for a couple of seasons and recently captained the team against Wales. Chris Smith began the game at right-back and has recently joined John Lysaght’s Aisling Annacotty side from St. Michaels and Annacotty are on a four-game winning streak in the league.