Northern Ireland’s Under-16s began their Victory Shield 2024 campaign with a 3-3 draw against Wales, who grabbed a bonus point.
Competition
Victory Shield
Scoreline
Northern Ireland U16s 3-3 (1-3 pens) Cymru (Wales) U16s
Scorers
Northern Ireland: Eamonn Tohill (14’), Joel Kerr (20’, 41’)
Cymru: Hawkins (27’), Papirnyk (29’), Conaty (77’)
Venue
Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld
Date
8 October 2024
Team News
The annual competition for Under-16 Schoolboys international teams is being hosted this year by the Scottish Football Association.
Northern Ireland head coach Kris Lindsay has a 20-strong panel at his disposal for the tournament, which features Scotland and the Republic of Ireland as well as the Welsh and Northern Ireland.
How it happened
Both sides made energetic starts before the first clearcut chance of the game brought the opening goal on 14 minutes. A long ball from Calum Anderson was chested down by Luke Hawe and he flicked the ball forward to Eamonn Tohill who raced onto it and slipped it past the Welsh keeper from 12 yards. It was a neat finish.
In the 20th minute Northern Ireland went two up. Hawe was the provider once again as he clipped the ball to Joel Kerr and he nodded home from six yards.
Wales midfielder Lennon Moss put a free-kick just over the bar before Cymru pulled a goal back on 27 minutes when full-back Alex Godfrey got in behind the Northern Ireland defence and fired a low cross into the area. Max Hawkins was on hand to tuck the ball home from close range at the back post.
Godfrey was the provider once again just two minutes later when he whipped in a cross which was powerfully headed home by striker Leo Papirnyk.
Kerr grabbed his second of the game just before the break (see main image). He picked up a loose ball outside the area and scored with a sweet low strike from 23 yards.
Northern Ireland U16s 3-2 Cymru U16s
Northern Ireland keeper Michael Doherty kept out a powerful shot from Papirnyk at the near post as Wales went in search of an equaliser.
On the hour mark Doherty pushed out another effort from Papirnyk and then saved the follow-up from Oliver Salter.
In the 73rd minute Northern Ireland midfielder Freddie Murdock produced a great delivery from a corner but no-one could connect with it.
Four minutes later Wales fashioned an equaliser. Papirnyk evaded his marker and broke down the left flank before playing the ball to the back post where it was hammered home by substitute Keano Conaty.
In the penalty shootout for a bonus point Papirnyk blazed the first spot kick over the bar, while Kerr drove his effort wide of the post, and Enzo Romano scored for the Welsh before Hawe missed.
Moss then netted and Northern Ireland substitute Jack May scored before Salter missed. However, Coran Madden missed and Paul Moreno scored to ensure the Welsh won the shootout 3-1.
Next up for Northern Ireland’s U16s is a game against Scotland on Thursday (10 October) at 11.30am, while their final game is against the Republic on Sunday (13 October) at 11.30am.
Full-time: Northern Ireland U16s 3-3 (1-3 pens) Cymru U16s
Northern Ireland U16s: Michael Doherty, Paul Stanfield, Sonny Trainor, Calum Anderson, Charlie Campbell, Freddie Murdock, Caleb Sweeney, Eamonn Tohill, Luke Hawe, Harry Gough, Joel Kerr.
Substitutes: Cole Smyth (GK), Calum Woods, Coran Madden, Emmett Morrison, Sean Cassidy, Adam Dolan, Finlay Ross, Jack May, Jay Longridge.
Cymru U16s: Jack Lines, Alex Godfrey, Logan Cartwright, Carter Heywood, Isaac Thomas, Louis Evans, Oliver Salter, Lennon Moss, Leo Papirnyk, Max Hawkins, Rob Tankiewicz.
Substitutes: Oscar Abbotson (GK), George Robinson, Enzo Romano, Paul Moreno, Jacob Norris, Keano Conaty, Theo Pitt, Alfie Jones, Archie Lorimer.
Action from Victory Shield
