Josh Cullen and Gavin McAteer both started as Ireland Men’s Under-17s were on the end of a 4-1 defeat to Norway Under-18s in Croatia on Wednesday June 4th. Cullen, making his Ireland MU17 debut, played the entire game while McAteer played the first half.
In the first of their World Cup preparation friendlies Colin O’Brien’s team faced a stern test against the Norwegians who proved to be too strong for the young Irish side.
Despite this, Ireland had held the Norwegians to a solitary goal until the break before making numerous changes at half-time to utilise the squad.
One of those changes netted the equaliser. Benfica’s Jaden Umeh produced an acrobatic finish to bring the game to 1-1 as Ireland got a foothold back into the game.
But a minute later Norway restored their lead going 2-1 in front and didn’t look back. They went 3-1 ahead 10 minutes later before sealing the game in the final minute.
Ireland: A. Noonan, Cullen, Leonard (Gabbidon, 75’), Sherlock (Butler, 65’), Finneran (C) (McDonagh, 46’), McMahon Brown (Sullivan, 65’), McAteer (Hayes, 46’), Ozhianvuna (Dunne, 65’), Lee (Kovalevskis, 46’), Tollett (Umeh, 46’), M.Noonan (Akinrintoyo, 46’).
Norway: Myklebust, Granli, Eckbo, Svenningsen, Sandrød, Holmen (C), Skaarud, Skistad, Aasen, Spitten, Gausdal. Substitutes: Klausen, Volden, Granheim, Haugen, Laegreid, Eikrem, Olderheim, Waehler.
Referee: Nino Vugrinec (Croatia)
Ireland Men’s Under-17s were unlucky to lose 2-0 to an Under-18 Türkiye team in Kotoriba, Croatia.
Gavin McAteer started once more while Josh Cullen came on in the second half as Ireland lost out 2-0 to Türkiye on 7th June. An early strike from Enes Cinemre and a second-half finish from Emre Erdogan was enough for the Turkish to secure the win.
Colin O’Brien’s young Boys in Green will feel hard done by in a performance that had their older opponents on the back foot for large parts of the game.
However they were chasing the game after four minutes when Cinemre got on the end of a well delivered cross and he headed home. From there Ireland grew into the game with Michael Noonan and Jaden Umeh a constant threat.
George Moloney in the Irish goal pulled off a brilliant save from captain Berkay Aslan. And later the Ausburg midfielder, Aslan, struck the bar as Türkiye showed their quality.
Ireland came close to levelling it up before the break when Niall Sullivan saw a free header just go wide of the post in the 38th minute. He then got on the end of a goal-mouth scramble but saw his attempt go over the bar.
After the break it was all Ireland, Umeh skipped past his man before delivering a cross across the face of goal that just evaded the in-running Noonan.
Umeh then had another opportunity when he managed to break free on goal but his attempt trickled agonisingly wide of the post.
But with 66 minutes on the clock Türkiye gave themselves a two-goal cushion. A quick passing move unlocked the Irish defence and Erdogan raced through to apply the finish.
Türkiye: Bitterge, Eliguzel, Yagiz Aydin, Aslan (C), Duldar, Cinemre, Ilhan, Arda Kara, Argun, Bircan, Katirag: Substitutes: Stancic, Ince, Simsek, Arac, Ozcan, Lus, Sen, Erdogan, Maldar, Cakiroglu, Ozturk, Erdursun.
Ireland: Moloney, McAteer (Butler, 46’), Gabbidon (Cullen, 76’), McDonagh, Kovalevskis (Dunne, 58’), Finneran (C) (Sherlock, 58’), Sullivan, Ozhianvuna (Tollett, 58’), Hayes (Spaight, 46’), Umeh (Lee, 58’), M. Noonan (Akinrintayo, 58’).
Referee: Jasmin Horvat (Croatia)
Ireland Men’s Under-17s produced a superb 3-0 victory over Croatia Under-18s in Kotoriba, Croatia on Monday June 9th. Both Harps players started the game with Cullen playing the full 90.
Goals from captain Rory Finneran, Michael Noonan and Jaden Umeh sealed the impressive result for the young Boys in Green.
The World Cup-bound Irish side took on the challenge of taking part in an a tournament against older opposition and while tasting defeat against Norway and Türkiye, Colin O’Brien’s team produced two impressive performances.
But against Croatian opposition their hard work paid dividends and it was Newcastle United’s Finneran who got Ireland in front with a sweet strike from outside the box after 40 minutes.
At half time O’Brien brought on Michael Noonan and Umeh and there was an immediate impact with ex-Cork City striker, Umeh, doubling Ireland’s lead when he reacted fasted to flick home from close range. Five minutes later it was 3-0 to Ireland, Shamrock Rovers forward Noonan on target to wrap up the game when he fired low past Croatia Maroje Kostopec.
Croatia: Kostopec, Ascic, Bilbobrk, Bakovic, Ahmeti, Kitin, Pecek, Vrzic, Chelfi, Mikic, Mlacic. Substitutes: Rajic, Mandic, Godec, Puljic, Covic, Huskic, Knezevic, Subotic, Sokac, Thaqi, Krivici, Simic.
Ireland: Alex Noonan (Moloney, 46’), Butler, Sherlock, Cullen, Kovalevskis (Lee, 83’), Finneran (C) (Gabbidon, 83’), McAteer (McDonagh, 78’), Hayes (Spaight, 78’), Akinrintoyo (Umeh, 46’), Ozhianvuna (Dunne, 86’), Tollett (Michael Noonan, 46’).
Referee: Sabina Boljic (Croatia).
Well done to Josh and Gavin for representing club and country with distinction!