Slovakia v Northern Ireland – U16 Schoolboys

Thursday 8^th September 2016 – TNC Stadium Senec, 11.00 am

Match Report

Northern Ireland Under 16s draw second game in Slovakia

The Northern Ireland U16 team maintained its unbeaten record for the season with another creditable 1-1 draw in their international challenge match against Slovakia in Senec.  The opening period was evenly contested and the first chance fell to Callum Ferris after 17 minutes but the striker failed to connect with a great pass from Dean Corrigan and the Slovak keeper was quickly off his line to avert the danger.

Shortly afterwards Ferris did test the keeper with a shot into the top corner which was well held.  Slovakia then missed a great chance to break the deadlock but Michal Dopater shot straight at Scott Pengelly with only the keeper to beat.

Two minutes after the restart Dominik Bindics opened the scoring, running onto a pass from Patrik Myslovic to beat Pengelly with a low drive into the corner of the net.

The lead proved to be short lived as Jordan McEneff equalised with a brilliant goal 5 minutes later.  The Northern Ireland captain won the ball in midfield and advanced 10 yards before planting a left foot strike into the roof of the net.

Northern Ireland went close to gaining a victory in the closing stages but Barney McKeown headed against a defender when well placed and Lee O'Brien saw his 25 yard piledriver deflected past the post.

The Under 16 team will be hoping to maintain their unbeaten run when they face Finland at Comber on Monday 12 September, kick off 6.00 pm, and again at Knockbreda on Wednesday, kick off 11.00 am.

FULL-TIME: Slovakia 1-1 Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Team

Scott Pengelly, Jake Corbett, Barney McKeown, Jack Conlon, Jordan McEneff (c), Callum Ferris, Lee O'Brien, Paul McAdorey, Sean og Gallagher, Dean Corrigan, Jack Scott

Substitutes:

George Curran replaced O'Brien 47 minutes

Lee Upton replaced Gallagher 47 minutes

Christopher Conn replaced Scott 58 minutes

Tyler Marsden replaced McKeown 58 minutes

O'Brien replaced McEneff 76 minutes

Slovakia v Northern Ireland – U16 Schoolboys

Tuesday 6^th September 2016 – Velky Biel Stadium Senec, 5.00 pm

Match Report

Northern Ireland Under 16s draw opening game in Slovakia

The Northern Ireland U16 team fought back well to earn a creditable 1-1 draw in their international challenge match against Slovakia in Senec.  However, it looked to be a different story at the start as Lukas Letenay put the home team ahead after 1 minute and 40 seconds with a powerful drive from the edge of the box.

Despite this early reverse Northern Ireland responded well with Jordan McEneff and Tyler Marsden showing fine form in midfield.  Lee O'Brien sent a deep cross to McEneff but his volley from 25 yards was tipped over the bar by the home keeper.

On the half hour Ivan Mesik missed a great chance to double the lead but shot straight at Paul McLaughlin from close range

After the interval Slovakia forced the pace and McLaughlin was in constant action, pulling off a series of good saves.  However, Northern Ireland was always very dangerous on the breakaway and drew level after 69 minutes when Jake Corbett made a great run down the right and pulled the ball back to Jack Scott.  The young striker found Callum Ferris who steadied himself before shooting low into the corner of the net.

The duo almost carved out the winner in the final minute as Scott again delivered a great pass to Ferris at the far post but this time his effort went just outside the upright.

The teams will meet again at the same venue on Thursday.

FULL-TIME: Slovakia 1-1 Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Team

Paul McLaughlin, Jake Corbett, Ethan Warnock, Barney McKeown, Jack Conlon, Tyler Marsden, Caolan McLaughlin, Jordan McEneff (c), Callum Ferris, Christopher Conn, Lee O'Brien

Substitutes:

Paul McAdorey replaced Marsden 52 minutes

Dean Corrigan replaced O'Brien 52 minutes

Jack Scott replaced Conn 52 minutes

George Curran replaced Caolan McLaughlin 62 minutes

Sean og Gallagher replaced McEneff 66 minutes

Lee Upton replaced Warnock 76 minutes

Northern Ireland U16 squad have a busy international calendar in the run up to the Victory Shield at the end of October.  The squad fly out today for two internationals in Tallinn and then two weeks later have two games away to Slovakia.  The final preparation for the home nation’s tournament is home to Finland on the 12^th and 14^th September. Coach Darren Murphy has praised the Northern Ireland Schools Football Association for the upcoming games. Darren said “the more international experience the boys can the better, it’s fantastic for them to get to go away to big nations the likes of Slovakia before playing in the victory shield.  The Schools football association have done a great job organising the games which will give the players the best opportunity to impress and earn a place in the Victory Shield squad”.  

The Northern Ireland squad for the two international friendlies against Estonia is:

Conor Hitchen

Paul McLaughlin

Kian McGarvey

Jake Corbett

Callum Ferris

Daniel Smith

George Curran

Connor Farrelly

Paul McAdorey

Jordon McEneff

Barny McKeown

Caolan McLaughlin

Ruairi O’Hare

Jack Conlon

Mal Smith

Lee O’Brien

Ben Wilson

Jamie Glover 

Sean Og Gallagher

The Northern Ireland Schools Football Association has opened entries for the Schools cup.

1.       NISFA is again holding District Cup competitions at Years 8, 9 and 10.  They will be played (along with the Primary Schools Year 7 competition) on 5 APRIL 2017

2.       The age limits for the following school competitions are:-

Northern Ireland Under 12 Cup          OVER 11 AND UNDER 12 on 1st July 2016 (Year 8)

Northern Ireland Under 14 Cup          OVER 12 AND UNDER 14 on 1st July 2016 (Years 9 and 10)

Northern Ireland Under 16 Cup          OVER 14 AND UNDER 16 on 1st July 2016 (Years 11 and 12)

Northern Ireland Under 18 Cup          OVER 16 AND UNDER 18 on 1st July 2016 (Years 13 and 14)

In these competitions 16 schools will be seeded (based on past results) and will not enter the cups until the third round.  The other schools will play down to 16 over the first two rounds. Schools eliminated in the First or Second Round of a Cup competition will be entitled to apply to enter the equivalent Plate competition.  The winners and runners up in the Northern Ireland Under 14 Cup will represent Northern Ireland in the Inter Nations Schools Championship in Wales, in May 2017.

Please make your smaller secondary schools aware of the NISFA Small Secondary Schools (Enrolment under 40 boys in Year 9 and Year 11) Competitions.  Entry Forms for the NISFA U13 and U15 Small Secondary Schools Cups will be sent out in October.

          The closing date for entries for these competitions is NOON FRIDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2016.

   For more information please contact  Edwin Ferris (EMAIL This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or Ross Redman (EMAIL This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)