The UEFA Youth League got underway last night and a young Laois man made a scintillating start.
Emo’s Roy Lawlor was in action for for UCD and finished the game with a goal and an assist from the left wing.
The UEFA Youth League is an annual club football competition organised since 2013.
In its current format, it is contested by the U-19 teams of the clubs competing in the UEFA Champions League league phase, plus the domestic youth champions of the best-ranked national associations.
UCD were U-17 domestic champions in the Republic of Ireland last season and qualified that way.
The Dublin side were drawn against Icelandic champions Stjarnan and beat them 3-0 in the first leg last night.
First-team player Adam Brennan opened the scoring in the 22nd minute in front of a healthy crowd at the UCD Bowl.
Laois teenager Roy Lawlor was then on target to double the Students’ advantage when netting in the 53rd minute.
Lawlor then set up the third for Odhran MacLaughlin when he intercepted the ball on the left wing, beat two defenders and crossed for the latter to head in.
It was the perfect result for Shane Fox’s side who now head to Iceland in a fortnight to try and complete the job on October 2.
Should UCD advance, they will play the winners of the tie between Albanians Bylis and 2 Korriku of Kosovo.
Korriku lead the tie 2-1 with a home leg to come.
You can watch the match is full below. Roy’s goal is at 1:33:00 with his assist coming at 1:54:00.
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