Fulham midfielder Ollie O’Neill scored on his debut for the Republic of Ireland’s under 21s as the boys in green kept their hopes of reaching the European Championships alive with a last-gasp win over Sweden in Dublin tonight.
The talented teenager was summoned from the substitutes’ bench with eight minutes remaining as Jim Crawford, gambled in search of a winner against the league leaders. O’Neill delivered with the last kick of the game – finding the bottom corner from the left side of the penalty area after being played through by Conor Coventry.
O’Neill told RTE after the final whistle: ‘It’s probably the best feeling I’ve ever had. I had Covid in the last camp – it knocked me out of that, I barely played a minute. To come and get a goal tonight was unbelievable. It was such a big game for the qualifiers as well. It was just an amazing moment.
‘A loose ball broke in the box. I felt I should have hit with my left when I was in. I took a touch, I was quite calm actually – I think everyone else was screaming! I cut inside, reversed it. It’s just that moment when it goes in – it is unbelievable. It is the best feeling ever. It’s like a fairy tale!’
