Northern Ireland’s Under-19s drew 1-1 with Slovakia in their second and final international challenge match against the Slovaks as part of their preparations for the U19 Euros in July.
Competition
International Challenge Match
Scoreline
Northern Ireland U19 1-1 Slovakia U19
Scorers
Northern Ireland: Evans (45’)
Slovakia: Zahradnik (59’)
Venue
Inver Park, Larne
Date
10 June 2024
Team News
Northern Ireland Under-19s manager Gareth McAuley made eight changes from the team that started the first game against Slovakia, which was played at Seaview Stadium in Belfast and ended in a 2-2 draw.
In came Daithi McCallion, Brendan Hamilton, Tom Atcheson, Francis Turley, Corey Smith, Joel Thompson, Jack Doherty and Reece Evans.
Only goalkeeper Mason Munn, Aodhan Doherty and Kieran Morrison retained their places in the starting 11.
Meanwhile, the Slovakians also made eight changes to their starting line-up.
The two matches against Slovakia were the Northern Ireland U19 team’s final warm-up games before they compete in the U19 Euros, which are being held in Northern Ireland from 15 to 28 July.
How it happened
In the opening 20 minutes both teams had plenty of the ball but struggled to create chances.
The first shot on target, on 22 minutes, saw Northern Ireland striker Reece Evans fire the ball straight at Slovakian keeper Jakub Vinarcik.
Both teams had penalty claims waved away before Slovakia’s Matus Kucman fired a shot over the top and then Slovakia’s Milan Rehus drilled a free-kick over the crossbar.
On the stroke of half-time Northern Ireland took the lead. Evans powered his way into the area and smashed the ball into the net off the underside of the bar.
Half-time: Northern Ireland U19 1-0 Slovakia U19
After the break it was pretty even once again, however Slovakia equalised when Northern Ireland substitute Gallagher Lennon’s back pass was latched on to by Slovakia captain Zoran Zahradnik and he turned the ball into the net.
In the 74th minute Munn got down well to push away a long range shot, while Northern Ireland substitute Blaine McClure blasted a shot inches wide not long after that.
Munn produced another great stop on 85 minutes as Slovakia pushed for a winner.
In the closing stages Northern Ireland forced a few corners, but they could not engineer chances from the set pieces.
Full-time: Northern Ireland U19 1-1 Slovakia U19
Northern Ireland U19s: Mason Munn, Daithi McCallion, Brendan Hamilton, Tom Atcheson, Aodhan Doherty, Francis Turley, Joel Thompson, Corey Smith, Reece Evans, Kieran Morrison (captain), Jack Doherty.
Substitutes: Kai McLean (GK), Sean Brown, Ruairi McConville, Josh Briggs, Gallagher Lennon, Lewis Trickett, Blaine McClure, Braiden Graham, Conor Barr, Sam Glenfield.
Slovakia U19s: Jakub Vinarcik, Richard Slovak, Adam Oravec, Alexej Maros, Tomas Marusin, Matus Kucman, Giuliano Marek, Samuel Samaj, Zoran Zahradnik (captain), Milan Rehus, David Petrik.
Substitutes: Jakub Badzgon, Matej Obsivan, Daniel Danihel, Patrik Dulay, Erik Murin, Andy Masaryk, Botond Angyal, Samuel Maslej, Adam Zajac.
Action from Inver Park
