Game time for Mayo goalkeeper in Ireland amateur friendly

Westport United goalkeeper Gary Cunningham kept a clean sheet after appearing as a second half substitute for the Ireland amateur side which defeated an Ireland Under 20 team 1-0 in a friendly at Home Farm FC on Tuesday.

Speaking to Striker Online after the game, Cunningham said: “We wanted a performance coming into this game. Myself and Brendan (O'Connell) got a half each and got a clean sheet each so happy days.

“It's a huge honour to pull on the Irish jersey and it's great to be able to represent Westport United at this level. I hope all the other lads in the club and the county see this and try and go on and do it.

“I used to see Dave Hoban doing it and you look it and go 'I want to get to that level'. I'm here and I want to stay here and that's my goal.”

Malahide's Glen Daly scored the game’s only goal in the first half of an even encounter in Whitehall, with exciting Newcastle West native O'Connor impressing for the winners.

Republic of Ireland Under 20s: David Odumosu (David Harrington, 46), James Furlong, Nico Jones (Joe Hodge, 58), Timi Sobowale, Kian Leavy, Killian Phillips (Mazeed Ogungbo, 58), Darragh Burns, Ciaran Gilligan (Matt Healy, 58), Connor O’Riordan (Zak Delaney, 46), Dylan Duffy, Tom Cannon (Kyle Robinson, 71)

Republic of Ireland amateurs: Brendan O’Connell (Gary Cunningham, 46), Adam Crowley (Cillian Thompson, 80), Jack McMullen, Glen Daly, John Barry (Jimmy McHugh, 46), AJ O’Connor (Aaron Humphreys 58), Jimmy Carr (Sean Rodgers 46), Luke Casey (Michael Fox, 71), Stephen Chambers (Nathan Broderick, 58), Eoin Hayes (Jimmy McHugh, 46), Sam Burgess (Eoin Murphy, 58)