Northern Ireland’s Under-19s drew 2-2 with Slovakia in the first of two international challenge matches against the Slovaks as part of their preparations for the U19 Euros in July.
Competition
International Challenge Match
Scoreline
Northern Ireland U19 2-2 Slovakia U19
Scorers
Northern Ireland: Trickett (30’), Graham (36’)
Slovakia: Dulay (13’), Masaryk (38’)
Venue
Seaview Stadium, Belfast
Date
7 June 2024
Team News
Northern Ireland Under-19s manager Gareth McAuley has chosen a 22-strong panel for this month’s two friendlies against Slovakia’s U19s.
The games in Belfast and Larne will be the Northern Ireland U19 team’s final warm-up games before they compete in the U19 Euros next month.
The challenge matches are being staged at Seaview and Larne’s Inver Park, the two grounds being used for group matches in the 2024 UEFA Men’s European Under-19 Championship finals, which are being held in Northern Ireland from 15 to 28 July.
How it happened
Slovakia opened the scoring on 13 minutes when Patrik Dulay guided the ball home.
Four minutes later Slovakia keeper Jakub Badzgon produced a fine save to keep out a powerful snapshot from Lewis Trickett.
Northern Ireland kept pressing and equalised against Albert Rusnak’s team on the half-hour mark. Kieran Morrison fed Trickett and he jinked his way past a couple of players before smashing the ball into the net. It was a peach of a goal.
Six minutes later the home side took the lead when Conor Barr slipped in Braiden Graham and the striker drilled the ball into the net from a tight angle.
Slovakia bounced back quickly, however, and equalised on 38 minutes through Andy Masaryk.
Half-time: Northern Ireland U19 2-2 Slovakia U19
After the break the game became a little scrappy. The defences were on top as both teams struggled to carve out clearcut opportunities. A raft of substitutions upset the rhythm of the contest.
The goalkeepers were rarely called into action as the game became bogged down in the middle of the park.
Despite the lack of chances in the second half, it was a strong performance overall from Northern Ireland against a solid Slovakian side.
The teams will meet again on Monday (10 June) at Inver Park in Larne, with a 6pm kick-off.
Full-time: Northern Ireland U19 2-2 Slovakia U19
Northern Ireland U19s: Mason Munn, Ruairi McConville (captain), Josh Briggs, Gallagher Lennon, Aodhan Doherty, Blaine McClure, Lewis Trickett, Conor Barr, Braiden Graham, Sam Glenfield, Kieran Morrison.
Substitutes: Kai McLean (GK), Sean Brown, Joel Thompson, Francis Turley, Tom Atcheson, Brendan Hamilton, Daithi McCallion, Corey Smith, Reece Evans, Jack Doherty.
Slovakia U19s: Jakub Badzgon, Matej Obsivan, Daniel Danihel, Tomas Marusin, Patrik Dulay, Erik Murin, Andy Masaryk, Botond Angyal, Zoran Zahradnik, Milan Rehus, Adam Zajac.
Substitutes: Jakub Vinarcik (GK), Richard Slovak, Adam Oravec, Samuel Samaj, David Petrik, Samuel Maslej, Alexej Maros, Matus Kucman, Giuliano Marek.
