Conor Coventry

Coventry becomes record Ireland U21 appearance maker

Conor Coventry broke the Republic of Ireland record for U21 caps as he captained the side to a 3-1 victory over Montenegro in UEFA U21 Championship qualification on Monday.

The West Ham United midfielder made his 25th appearance at this level, going one clear of one-time Arsenal and Coventry City forward Graham Barrett.

Ireland made it a day to remember too, going 3-0 up against their opponents at Tallaght Stadium, and although Montenegro would pull one back late on, it made no difference to the final score.

The victory extends Ireland's winning run in qualifying Group F to a fourth game and keeps them in the hunt for a place in next summer's finals in Romania and Georgia.

With one game to go - in Italy on Tuesday 14 June - Ireland know a point would guarantee a place in the Play-Offs, while victory could see them overhaul Italy at the top of the group.

 

 

Elsewhere on Monday evening, Nikola Vlašić earned his 37th Croatia cap as his country hosted France in UEFA Nations League Group A1.

Vlašić came off the bench with eleven minutes to play, and four minutes later Hoffenheim striker Andrej Kramarić scored from the spot to cancel out Adrien Rabiot's opener.

The 1-1 draw got both Croatia and France - for whom Alphonse Areola was an unused substitute - off the mark for the campaign, with each now possessing one point from two games.

Croatia are next in action on Friday when they head to Denmark, while France play Austria away on the same night.