Goals from Mark O’Mahony and Justin Ferizaj cancelled out Oliwier Slawinski’s first-half brace to ensure Ireland progressed to the Elite Round of qualification next spring as group winners ahead of Poland.

“It was a rollercoaster of a game today,” said manager Colin O’Brien shortly after full time.

“It was a really big test but we are delighted, we are absolutely delighted because we top the group.

“Our objective was to qualify and we secured that after two games but today was a bigger challenge and we knew that.

“Going two goals down but then coming back to get two goals shows that there is a bit of substance in the squad as well and that is really important going forward. We are delighted with the tournament as a whole and especially today.”

O’Brien made two changes from this side that defeated North Macedonia 2-0 on Sunday evening with Franco Umeh and Darius Lipsiuc coming in for Ferizaj and Trent Kone Doherty.

Ireland started brightly and they had two sights at goal in the opening minutes but Mark O’Mahony and Rocco Vata – the two players on the scoresheet last time out – sent their tame efforts from the edge of the penalty area straight at the goalkeeper.

The hosts suddenly found themselves trailing shortly before the quarter of an hour mark when Cathal Heffernan fouled striker Oliwier Slawinski inside the box. The Polish number four dusted himself down and slotted his spot-kick into the bottom corner to give his side the lead.

Poland almost made it 2-0 moments later but Tomasso Guercio could only lift his attempt over the bar as he raced clear one on one with the goalkeeper.

But the reprieve from an Irish point of view was all too brief as in the 20th minute Poland would double their advantage and it was that man Slawinski who got it as he cleverly shouldered Maciej Bochniak’s cross into the net from close range.

The Boys in Green would half that deficit in the 27th minute though when Mark O’Mahony pressed the keeper on the edge of the box and regained possession before rolling it into the back of the net on the turn for his third goal in as many games.

They were now in charge of proceedings and Umeh and Vata both went close either side of the half-time break but neither could hit the target with the strikes from distance.

Substitute Justin Ferizaj would show them how it’s done just past the hour mark as he made it 2-2 when he curled a sensational free from at least 25 yards out into the top left corner, giving the keeper absolutely no chance.

Ireland pressed forward as they looked for the goal that would complete a remarkable comeback and see them make it three wins out of three for this camp but it wasn’t to be although the point was enough to see them end Group Five in first place.

Republic of Ireland: Walsh; Curtis, Heffernan, Browne, O’Brien; Lipsuic (Ferizaj ht), McManus, Umeh (Kone Doherty 77; Vata, O’Mahony, Zefi.

Poland: Mendes-Dudzinski; Guercio, Kurzydlowski, Tudruj, Bockniak (Dziuba 91); Kalemba (Bernatowicz 70), Tomaszewski, Staniszewski; Masiak (Jedrasik 91), Slawinski, Terlecki (Gruszecki 73).

Referee: Sigurd Kringstad (Norway).

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The two games against Mexico will both take place at Turner’s Cross in Cork with the first game scheduled for Sunday, September 5.

The second game will be played two days later on Tuesday, September 7 – squad rotations are likely.

It will be the final two games for the U17s before the first round of UEFA Under-17 European Championship qualifiers which also take place in Cork in October.

600 fans each will be able to see the Mexico games live before the side start their qualification campaign.

Colin O’Brien’s youngsters face North Macedonia, Poland and Andorra in the first round of qualifiers.

Speaking ahead of the games against Mexico, O’Brien said: “To get this level of opposition is a real huge plus for us. Mexico is a real powerhouse at this age group if you research and examine their age groups in the past couple of years they’re a World Cup standard team and that will the standard over the two games we will be playing.

“It’s a very ‘home-based squad’ and it’s the first squad we’re going to see around the Brexit situation but the players are well into their season and we’ve done a lot of home-based assessments and training camps over the last few months and a lot of games watched.”

17 of the players called up by O’Brien play for clubs on the island of Ireland, including League of Ireland sides.

Three players play abroad – midfielder Rocco Vata is in Celtic’s youth system while forwards Caden McLoughlin and Kevin Zefi line out in Villarreal and Inter Milan’s colours respectively.

“We’ve 20 players ready to represent the Republic of Ireland Under-17s against high-level opposition so the players are going to be really tested here, both collectively and individually, and it will give them a good measure to where they’re at.”

Republic of Ireland Under-17 Squad

Goalkeepers: Fintan Doherty (Derry City), Conor Walsh (Sligo Rovers)

Defenders: Luke Browne (Shelbourne), Sam Curtis (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Cathal Heffernan (Cork City), Ruadhan Kane (Klub Kildare), Daniel Kelly (Sligo Rovers), Luke O’Brien (St. Patrick’s Athletic)

Midfielders: Justin Ferizaj (Shamrock Rovers), Gavin Hodgins (Shelbourne), Darius Lipsivc (St. Patrick’s Athletic), James McManus (Bohemians), Rocco Vata (Celtic)

Forwards: Trent Kone Doherty (Derry City), Mark O’Mahony (Cork City), Caden McLoughlin (Villareal), Liam Murray (Cork City), Alex Nolan (Shelbourne), Franco Umeh (Cork City), Kevin Zefi (Inter Milan)

Fixtures – International Friendlies (all times are Irish times)

Sunday, September 5 | Republic of Ireland U17 v Mexico U17, Turner’s Cross, Cork, KO: 7 pm
Tuesday, September 7 | Republic of Ireland U17 v Mexico U17, Turner’s Cross, Cork KO: 12 pm

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