The Northern Ireland U16 team will continue their preparations for next month’s Victory Shield tournament with a double header against Finland next week.

The first of the international friendlies takes place on Tuesday (12 September, 6.30pm) in Jyväskylä with the second game being staged next Thursday (1pm) in the city in central Finland.

The Schoolboys side will be hoping to keep their unbeaten run going. In recent months they have won two games at home against Estonia U16s and drawn twice with Austria’s U16s away.

The double header next week will be the team’s final preparation matches ahead of the Victory Shield – the Home International series for U16 teams – at the end of next month.

Northern Ireland U16 manager Darren Murphy says the matches against Finland are vital for the players’ development.

He pointed out: “The matches building up to the Victory Shield have been fantastic for the boys. We have three 2003 players in the squad as seven 2002 players have been selected for the Northern Ireland U17 squad in preparation for their European Championship qualifying campaign.

“This trip gives us a chance to look at these young players on the international stage. I am expecting two very tough games with Finland but also really looking forward to the challenge.”

The Northern Ireland squad for the games against Finland: David Walsh (Linfield), Conner Byrne (Glenavon), Trai Hume (Linfield), Dylan Boyle (Ridgeway Rovers), John McGivern (Ridgeway Rovers), Vicky Saldanha De Rosa (Dungannon Swifts), Chris Hutchinson (Portadown), Carl Johnston (Linfield), Jesse Carson (Linfield), Gerard Storey (Ridgeway Rovers), Barry Baggley (Glentoran), Euan Devreney (Rangers), George Tipton (Ridgeway Rovers), Peter McKiernan (Cliftonville), Aaron Brown (Linfield), Alberto Balde (Portadown), Eoin Teggert (Cliftonville) and Lewis Mackinnon (Linfield).

Schools football gets back into action this week and Edwin Ferris, Northern Ireland Schools Competition Convener, is expecting that there will be a surge of interest in the national competitions.  “Last season we had a record number of entries for all the competitions and I anticipate that the level of interest will be even greater this time.  We have already been contacted by some schools wishing to participate for the first time.  This season the 16 strongest teams will be seeded and will enter the competition at the third round while the unseeded teams will play down to 16” added Edwin.

With so many schools from all over the Province participating in these events it is necessary for the competitions to start early in the season and the Competition Convener reminds schools that the closing date for entry to

Under 12                    Northern Ireland Minor Cup

Under 14                    Northern Ireland Intermediate Cup

Under 16                    Northern Ireland Youth Cup

Under 18                    Northern Ireland Senior Cup

is Friday 8th September.

Entries should be sent to
Edwin Ferris

49 Mount Merrion Park

BELFAST BT6 0GA

and any teacher requiring further details can contact him by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Edwin Ferris

(NISFA Press Officer)

The Northern Ireland Under 16 team completed the double over Estonia and maintained their unbeaten record for the season with a comprehensive 4-1 victory at Seaview.

There was little between the teams in the early stages but after 27 minutes Alberto Balde caused panic in the visitors defence and Kristjan Stuff handled the ball.  George Tipton, son of Warrenpoint Town Manager Matthew Tipton, stepped up to blast the spot kick into the roof of the net.

After the break Estonia came more into the game and Rudhan Hughes did well to keep out a fierce free kick by Patrick Veelma while Aleksandr Sapovalov was narrowly off target with a long range effort.  Soon afterwards Estonia deservedly drew level when Sapovalov, who had scored for the visitors in their 3-1 defeat at Comber on Monday, netted with a close range header.

At this stage it looked as if Estonia would go on to record their first success at Under 16 level against Northern Ireland but gradually the home team regained control and after 78 minutes Chris McKee found the net when put through by Jack Scott.

Two minutes later Peter McKiernan doubled the lead with a spectacular effort as the lively striker twisted and turned his way past two defenders before unleashing an unstoppable drive into the top corner.

In stoppage time Scott completed the scoring with a 25 yard effort which gave the Estonian keeper no chance.

The Under 16 team can expect a sterner test when they travel to Finland next month for two games in Jyvaskyla.

Northern Ireland

Rudhan Hughes, Jack Scott, Peter Bell, Dylan Boyle (c), Aaron Brown, Alberto Balde, George Tipton, Trai Hume, Barry Baggley, Eoin Teggert, Aidan Steele

Substitutes

Michael Glynn (replaced Brown 51 minutes), Peter McKiernan (Tipton 51'), Chris McKee (Balde 51'), Naseem Ouldhamlat (Teggert 51'), Jesse Carson (Bell 65'), Ben Wylie (Hume 65'), Chris Hutchinson (Baggley 65'), Carl Johnston (Steele 65')

Under 16s face Estonia

Northern Ireland Under 16 Manager Darren Murphy is hoping that his young charges can maintain their unbeaten record when they play two games against Estonia next week.  In May his team recorded two victories 2-1 at home to Slovakia and the following month the squad travelled to Austria and came home with a scoreless draw and a 1-1 draw against an unbeaten Austrian team.

Now Estonia provide the opposition at Comber on Monday 14 August, kick off 6.30 pm, and two days later Knockbreda FC is the venue, kick off 3.00 pm.

Murphy is looking forward to his young side taking on the visitors.  “The team was outstanding in the matches against Slovakia and Austria and now I am hoping that they can advance to an even higher level.  We have an excellent record against Estonia, winning four and drawing two of the last six games.  Those matches were all very close and the boys will have to pull out all the stops to maintain our record against Estonia.  This is just the start of an extensive programme of international matches for the boys.  In September the team travels to Finland for two games.  It will be a good experience for our boys to pit their skills against the best Continental teams.  This is just the sort of test that we need before embarking on the Victory Shield campaign against Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland in October.  The games against Estonia and Finland will give everyone a chance to stake a claim for their place in the squad for the Victory Shield”.

The Northern Ireland Schools’ Football Association is offering free entrance to any school or youth group wishing to attend the games against Estonia.

Any group wishing to gain free entrance should send their details by email to Edwin Ferris, NISFA Treasurer, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to obtain a group permit.

Edwin Ferris

(NISFA Press Officer)