
Ireland 1 – France 1 (France win 4-3 on penalties)
Ireland’s Men’s Football team signed off on their 2019 World University Games adventure with a 4-3 defeat on penalties to France on Saturday afternoon in the Stadio Lamerti, meaning Ireland finished a creditable 8th overall.
After losing their quarter final to Russia on Tuesday, Ireland suffered a 2-1 reversal to Ukraine on Thursday setting up an encounter with France on Saturday for 7th to 8th place. Both nations know each other well over the years with numerous friendly and competitive games between the sides.
Teiva Blanchet gave the French an early lead as he met Vincent Roux’s cross square on with his head and the ball powered past Gavin Sheridan. It seemed Ireland were level on thirty-three minutes, but Sean McSweeney saw his effort ruled out for offside.
Ireland gave everything to equalize and after all the luck seemed to have dried out Simon Falvey stepped up to head Ireland level on the 88th minute.
Into the shootout and French goalkeeper Rempp was the hero when he denied Dean Kelly and Michael Scott to place France ahead of Ireland in the final rankings.
Ireland: Gavin Sheridan, Sean Trimble (Jamie Hollywood 68), Joseph Manley, Robert Slevin, Tristian Noack-Hofmann, Dean Kelly, Sean Quinn (Cillian Duffy 60), Anthony McAlavey, Shane Daly-Butz (Michael Scott 76), Alan O’Sullivan (Simon Falvey 82), Sean McSweeney.
2019 FISU Summer Universiade Men’s Football Results
Ireland 3-2 South Korea
Ireland 1-1 Uruguay
Ireland 0-1 Russia
Ireland 1-2 Ukraine
Ireland 1-1 France – France win 4-3 on penalties