The Northern Ireland men’s Under-21 side had a solid year in 2024, enjoying some notable wins.
Tommy Wright’s team started the year with a 3-0 friendly defeat away to Czechia in March, however just days later they had a fine 2-1 win away to Serbia in a Euro qualifier.
The boys in green and white trailed at the break in the UEFA U21 Euro 2025 Qualifiers Group F clash played at the Gradski Stadion Dubocica in the city of Leskovac in southern Serbia.
However, they hit back in the second half through Charlie Allen and Craig Farquhar to collect their second win of the campaign and move into fourth spot in the group.
Goalkeeper Pierce Charles, who would be in the senior team by the end of the year, pulled off some fine stops in both halves as the Serbs launched a series of attacks.
Next up was a European Championship qualifier at home against eventual table toppers England.
The game was played at Ballymena Showgrounds, in September, and Northern Ireland deservedly secured a point in a goalless draw.
They produced a gritty, gutsy display against the reigning European champions in front of 3,237 spectators.
England, packed with players who operate in the Premier League, were repelled by a superb Northern Ireland defence.
The U21s, who were beaten 3-0 by England in the reverse fixture at Goodison Park in November 2023, contested every ball and put their bodies on the line time and time again.
With Charles in tip-top form behind them, the back three of Tommy Fogarty, Aaron Donnelly and Michael Forbes, flanked by Terry Devlin and Sean Stewart, dealt superbly with anything that was thrown at them.
And midfielders Justin Devenny, Darren Robinson and Patrick Kelly provided a solid shield for the defensive unit.
But it was not all about keeping England out. In the final third captain Dale Taylor and JJ McKiernan worked their socks off and kept the England defence on their toes.
The home side also created opportunities against the top seeds in Group F and could arguably have won the game. Devenny had a couple of decent efforts, while Taylor and substitute Makenzie Kirk also had chances against their star-studded opponents.
Wright’s team were back in Ballymena the same month for a Euro qualifier against Ukraine, who were excellent throughout the campaign.
And Ukraine’s Under-21s maintained a 100 per cent record in Group F when they registered a 2-1 win at the Showgrounds.
Tommy Wright’s side pushed them all the way, however the Ukrainians showed a ruthless streak when grabbing two first half goals that ultimately secured the victory.
Allen scored a penalty in the 81st minute, but the home side could not force an equaliser in the closing stages.
In October the U21s were in Ballymena once again where they swept aside Azerbaijan, winning by five goals to nil.
Goals from Allen (penalty), McKiernan, Kelly and Devenny plus an own goal secured the emphatic victory in Northern Ireland’s penultimate game in Group F.
They rounded off their qualification campaign away to Luxembourg the same month.
Wright’s side had to settle for a goalless draw at the Emile Mayrisch Stadium in Esch-sur-Alzette in south-western Luxembourg.
It was another good performance from the U21s, who deserved more than a point for their efforts.
Allen hit the woodwork, striker Taylor had a couple of decent efforts, Devenny tested Luxembourg keeper Eldin Latik and Kirk also had a shot well saved by him.
The result meant Northern Ireland finished fourth in Group F of the UEFA U21 Euro 2025 qualifiers on 11 points, ahead of Luxembourg (eight points) and Azerbaijan (three points).
Serbia (16 points) upset the apple cart in the final group game by defeating pacesetters Ukraine (24 points) by a goal to nil, allowing England (25 points) to top the group thanks to a 7-0 win over Azerbaijan.
Both England and Ukraine, as one of the three best runners-up, qualified automatically for the 2025 finals in Slovakia.
Image: The U21s in action against England's U21s at Ballymena Showgrounds.
