Northern Ireland’s Under-15 development team were under the cosh in the first of two friendlies against Poland’s U15s this week.
It was the first taste of international football for the Northern Ireland players and it was a challenging experience as they were heavily defeated by a powerful Polish team.
Competition
International challenge match
Scoreline
Northern Ireland U15s 0 Poland U15s 7
Venue
Coleraine Showgrounds
Date
Tuesday 22 August 2023
Team News
Head coach Michael McClean had a 20-strong panel to choose from. The Northern Ireland U15 development squad is made up of players who will be attending the Irish FA JD Academy over the next two years along with others from the Irish FA’s National Performance Programme and one player who is based in England.
How it happened
It was a huge learning experience for the U15s. Polish teams at underage international level are known for being very physical, well organised and technically very good. And this U15 team were no exception.
Poland bossed proceedings from the start, opening the scoring after eight minutes.
They doubled their lead just a minute later before adding a third on 21 minutes. And they were four up before the half-hour mark as they turned on the power and style.
Northern Ireland found it difficult to get out of their own half. Poland pressed high and rarely took the foot off the gas.
Half-time: Northern Ireland U15s 0 Poland U15s 4
It was more of the same after the break. Poland continued to dominate the ball and pinned Northern Ireland back.
The visitors scored their fifth of the night just a minute into the second period, and two more goals followed as Northern Ireland continued to struggle against their physicality in particular.
The second of the two challenge matches will be staged tomorrow (24 August) at the same venue in Coleraine – and entry is free. Kick-off time is 7pm.
Full-time: Northern Ireland U15s 0 Poland U15s 7
Line-ups
Northern Ireland U15s: Matthew Hayman, Paul Stanfield, Jack Johnston, Charlie Campbell (captain), Jake Hirthe, Caleb Sweeney, Emmet Morrison, Ryan Lagan, Luke Hawe, Coran Madden, Joel Kerr.
Substitutes: Cole Smyth, Calum Anderson, Max Strong, Matthew McCann, Stephen Kelly, Ross Campbell, Freddie Murdock, Eamonn Tohill, Harry Moore.
Poland U15s: Kuba Bochniarz, Aleksander Wyganowski, Kacper Cecuta, Kajetan Feliks, Aleksander Klimkiewicz, Kacper Berkowski, Patryk Prajsnar, Maciej Kucharskl, Bartosz Szywala, Gracjan Nicpon, Philip Buchta.
Substitutes: Tomasz Pytlak, Piotr Bartnicki, Bartosz Walendzik, Patryk Bojek, Fabian Mazur, Oliwier Plawinski, Kacper Boratynski, Adam Hancko, Bartosz Okolski.
Northern Ireland U15 v Poland
