Northern Ireland’s U16s lost out to a strong Poland side this afternoon in the first of two friendly games against the Poles this week.

The visitors from eastern Europe dominated the early exchanges but Northern Ireland gave as good as they got across the bulk of the 80 minutes and were a tad unlucky to lose 2-0. It was an entertaining encounter. Queen’s University’s Dub complex in south Belfast was the venue for part one of this week’s double header. Poland started the game brightly and only a last ditch tackle from Trai Hume prevented the Schoolboys’ side from going behind in the opening minutes. However, the Poles broke the deadlock shortly after when Michal Rakoczy latched on to a misplaced pass to beat a defender before finishing past Conner Byrne in the Northern Ireland goal. Byrne was called into action again minutes later when a free-kick evaded the defence and the keeper reacted smartly to keep the ball out. Northern Ireland’s first effort in the game came from Eoin Teggart, whose shot from a tight angle just missed the post. Carl Johnson was next to threaten when he beat a pair of Polish defenders only to blaze his shot over the bar.

The second half started in similar fashioin to the first with Poland on top. Conner Byrne reacted well to push away a Bartosz Zynek goalbound effort and then shortly after he was alert to save an Arkadiusz Baran strike from distance. Encouraged by energetic captain Dylan Boyle, Northern Ireland created a couple of half-chances, the best of which saw an Alberto Balde header drop just wide of the target. The second Polish goal came around the midway point of the second half when Filip Marchwinski blocked an attempted clearance by the keeper and slotted the ball into the net from close range.The game lost its flow a little after a string of changes by both sides but Northern Ireland did threaten late on. Chris Hutchinson dragged a shot wide of the upright when well placed.

Substitute Charlie Lindsay had a fantastic chance to get himself on the scoresheet on his debut when he robbed the Polish goalkeeper of the ball and unleashed a shot but it was blocked on the line by a recovering defender. Afterwards team coach Darren Murphy said the Poles had provided strong opposition but he felt the Northern Ireland team acquitted themselves well. He pointed out three members of his panel were playing a year down from the U16 age group, while 13-year-old Lindsay was playing two years down. He further revealed Northern Ireland have not defeated a Polish team at underage level since 2003 but he hopes to put that right in the second game, which is being staged at Stangmore Park in Dungannon on Thursday (30 November) at 3pm. 

Northern Ireland: Conner Byrne, Jack Scott, Sean Stewart, Trai Hume, Dylan Boyle, John McGivern, Carl Johnson, Ben Wylie, Peter McKiernan, Eoin Teggart, Alberto Balde. Subs: David Walsh, Jesse Carson, Chris Hutchinson, Gerard Storey, Conor Bradley, Barry Baggley, Ben Gallagher, Charlie Lindsay.

Northern Ireland 0-1 Republic of Ireland 

Monday 23rd October 

Bangor Fuels Arena 

3pm 

A penalty just three minutes into the second half from Troy Parrott was enough to give Republic of Ireland a 1-0 victory over Northern Ireland in the opening game of the Victory Shield in Bangor.

Republic of Ireland started the better of the two sides and nearly opened the scoring on the 4^th minute, midfielder Troy Parrott received the ball following good work in the middle of the park by Brandon Holt, he seen his shot cannon of the post. Northern Ireland were soaking up a lot of pressure in the early stages of the game, defenders Dylan Boyle, Lewis McKinnon and Peter Bell all putting their bodies on the line to deny the Republic of Ireland forward line.  Down at the other end Northern Ireland didn’t test keeper Jimmy Corcoran but were asking questions of his defence with Aaron Brown and Alberto Balde chasing down balls and making it hard for their opponents.

Midway through the half Northern Ireland grew in confidence, midfield trio Gerard Storey, Ben Gallagher and Carl Johnston played some neat football between themselves before finding Euan Deveney, the full back made an advanced run forward before having a shot on goal that was saved by Corcoran. On the half hour mark Northern Ireland came even closer, Storeys diagonal ball was held well by Aaron Brown before the forward set for Ben Gallagher, he took a touch before hammer a strike off the bar.

Gallagher had another shot for the green and white army shortly after, this time it sailed over the bar as the half time whistle followed. An even first half with Northern Ireland having the better of chances, Republic of Ireland started the game very well but didn’t test keeper David Walsh.

The second half started and Northern Ireland found themselves on the attack again, Alberto Balde on the counter attack put a dangerous delivery into the box that was eventually cleared by the Northern Ireland defence. From the resulting clearance Republic of Ireland carved an attack of their own, James Furlong and Armstrong Oko-Flex combined before the later was brought down just inside the box by Northern Ireland midfielder Gerard Storey.  Troy Parrott stepped up and sent keeper David Walsh the wrong way to put his side in front.

Northern Ireland's likely goal scorer if anyone was going to be Ben Gallagher, the midfielder found himself again in the second half having chances on goal but none tested Jimmy Corcoran. Republic of Ireland were happy to hold on to their 1-0 lead as changes were made to take the sting out of the game, they sat in and soaked some pressure, on the ball they looked for substitute Festy Obosele on the right hand side.  The winger came close himself, having a shot saved at the near post by keeper Walsh.

With 15 minutes to go Northern Ireland hit the post for a second time, Alberto Balde was finding joy down the right flank, he played a ball inside the Conor Bradley who directed his shot onto the woodwork. Festy Obesele and Brandon Holt worked together for Republic of Ireland's next attack in the final 10 minutes, Obeseles shot brought a fine save from David Walsh.

Northern Ireland huffed and puffed with substitutes Peter McKiernan and Conor Bradley at the heart of attacks, using their fresh legs to run at the Republic of Ireland defence but just lacking the final ball. Alberto Balde had the games final chance, a Euan Deveney corner found the Portadown forwards head; but it wasn’t the connection he hoped for as the ball trickled wide of the goal.

Republic of Ireland defeat Northern Ireland by 1 goal to nil in the opening game of this years Victory Shield, both teams had their chances but Troy Parrotts goal separated the two sides.

Republic of Ireland face Wales this coming Wednesday at Bangor Fuels Arena, 11am kick off.  Meanwhile Northern Ireland come up against Scotland at Seaview, 1pm kick off.

Northern Ireland XI: Walsh, Boyle ©, Bell, MacKinnon, Hume, Deveney, Johnston, Storey, Gallagher, Brown, Balde.

Northern Ireland Substitutes: Taylor, Carson, Bradley (for Brown 56), Hutchinson, Baggley, McBride (for Storey 66), McKiernan (for Gallagher 54), McGivern, Teggert.

Republic of Ireland XI: Corcoran, Dunne, Power, Kelly, Furlong, Keogh ©, Holt, Parrott, Kennedy, Oko-Flex, Odupeko.

Republic of Ireland Substitutes: Halwax, Agberhiere (for Furlong 59), McKinley, Healy, Ogbungo, Farrell, Obosele (for Kennedy 54), Giurgi.

Scotland 1 – 1 Wales

Victory Shield

Monday 23^rd October 2017

Seaview 1pm KO

Scotland and Wales kicked off the 72^nd victory shield tournament at Seaview Belfast in the early kick off on Monday 23^rd October.  Wales started the game brighter with Cavan Williams and Bradley Gibbings causing the Scotland defence problems, However, it was Scotland that had the first sight of goal when a long ball into the box was met by full back Harris O’Connor.  His header struck the bottom of the post with David Robson well beaten. Both teams had a succession of corners but neither could make the breakthrough.  The deadlock was broken on 31 minutes when a surging run by Bradley Gibbings won a free kick just outside the Scotland penalty area.  Dan Malone stepped up and curled a wonderful freekick into the top corner of the net with Jack Newman helpless.  Wales continued to press after the goal and Luke Motruck had a header just wide of the mark.

 Half time Scotland 0-1 Wales

 The game opened up early in the second half with both sides creating chances. On 47 minutes Scotland drew level with a fantastic individual goal.  Cole Starrs raced through onto a long ball shrugging off a welsh defender before keeping his compose to slot the ball passed the on-rushing David Robson. Scotland pushed for a winner with Karamoko Dembele getting space on the right however his shot was blocked by the Welsh defence.  Connor Smith thought that he had won it late on when he ran onto a short back pass only to see his shot saved bravely by David Robson.

Full time Scotland 1-1 Wales

Scotland Team: Jack Newman, Harris O’Connor, Liam Millar, Kyle McClelland, Liam Morrison, Andrew Winter, Connor Smith, Cole Starrs, Karamoko Dembele, Ciaran Dickson, Jenson Weir

Wales Team: David Robson, Jamie Taylor, Luke Mortruk, Luc Noble, Ollie Denham, Owen Hesketh, Bradley Gibbings, Ollie Ewing, Will Russ, Dan Malone, Cavan Williams