Northern Ireland’s Women’s Under-19 team drew one apiece with Hungary in their final game in League A in the qualifying first round of WU19 Euro 2024.
Competition
UEFA Women’s European Under-19 Championship 2023-24
Qualifying First Round (League A)
Scoreline
Northern Ireland WU19s 1 Hungary WU19s 1
Scorers
Northern Ireland: Loughran (25’)
Hungary: Sinka (35’)
Venue
Stade Jean Verbeke, Montauban
Date
31 October 2023
Team News
This was Northern Ireland’s third and final match in League A in the first round of qualifiers for the UEFA WU19 Euros 2024. The Group A1 mini tournament was staged in the Occitanie region in southern France. After losing to France and Italy, Northern Ireland had to win the game to avoid relegation to League B for the second round of qualifying for the WU19 Euros. They created lots of chances but could not find a winner. WU19s boss Gail Redmond made one change to the team that started game two against Italy, with Sofie Keenan replacing Abi Sweetlove.
How it happened
Northern Ireland started strongly and enjoyed plenty of possession. In the 10th minute Kascie Weir sped down the right flank and pulled the ball back to Keri Halliday whose shot was well saved by Hungarian keeper Dora Ascher.
Three minutes later Rachel McIntyre was hauled down on the edge of the area and Sofie Keenan hit the bar from the resulting free-kick. Then Halliday fired a shot over the top before Hungary midfielder Napsugar Sinka struck the post with a powerful drive from a free-kick.
Northern Ireland took the lead on 25 minutes. Keenan supplied the cross and Faye Loughran’s header looped over the keeper into the net.
Aimee Kerr had a long range shot saved before Hungary levelled on 35 minutes when Sinka drilled the ball home from the edge of the area.
Northern Ireland keeper Erin McAllister gathered well when Adelina Molnar let fly from outside the area.
Half-time: Northern Ireland WU19s 1 Hungary WU19s 1
Petra Tuza missed the target for the Hungarians before Kerr had a shot pushed around the post by Ascher, who moments later stopped a McIntyre drive.
Hungary midfielder Borbala Vincze put an effort wide before Mikayla Wildgoose fed Weir and she tested the keeper. Kerr played a lovely through ball to McIntyre but her shot was also saved.
McAllister saved a Vincze shot and Petra Petrovics missed the target as Hungary applied pressure.
Loughran blasted a free-kick over the bar on 75 minutes before Ascher was equal to a Sarah Tweedie drive.
McAllister saved another Vincze effort as both teams went in search of a winner. Northern Ireland had chances in the closing stages, however Kerr steered a shot wide and Niamh O’Donnell was off target.
Northern Ireland and Hungary both ended their League A Group 1 campaigns with a point, however Hungary finished third in the group thanks to a superior goal difference. The result meant Northern Ireland were relegated to League B for the second round of qualifiers next year.
Full-time: Northern Ireland WU19s 1 Hungary WU19s 1
Line-ups
Northern Ireland WU19s: Erin McAllister, Orleigha McGuinness, Niamh O’Donnell,Faye Loughran, Mikayla Wildgoose, Sarah Tweedie (captain), Aimee Kerr, Sofie Keenan, Rachel McIntyre, Kascie Weir, Keri Halliday.
Substitutes: (used) Naomi McLaughlin-Gallagher, Aoibhe O’Neill, Abi Sweetlove; (unused) Kate Smith (GK), Sophie Gargan, Maeve McConaghy, Aoibhe O’Neill, Megan Neill, Tara Reilly, Rhyleigh Marks.
Hungary WU19s: Dora Ascher, Petra Tuza, Henrietta Laszlo, Aida Kovacs, Adel Nemeth (captain), Borbola Vincze, Fanni Kern, Napsugar Sinka, Sara Szarvas, Petra Petrovics, Adelina Molnar.
Substitutes: Dora Schvirjan (GK), Petra Acsadi, Viktoria Murar, Petra Helmeczi, Zsoka Toth, Sara Harmat, Sydney Koszo, Annamaria Benke, Kayla Ginger.
