NORTHERN Ireland senior women’s futsal team played two very competitive friendly games at the Newforge Sports Complex in Belfast.
The women’s team faced the England Deaf futsal team who recently came third in the World Cup behind Brazil and Japan.
The opposition fought hard with their first match of the weekend finishing with a 2-2 draw.
The second game was another close battle however an overhead kick from Amber Dempster with just 30 seconds left on the clock that that ultimately swung the game in their favour.
Coach Keith Gibson said “This was a great workout for us as we start to prepare for our World Cup qualifiers later this year. There were 6 debuts over the weekend and a lot of the newer players getting some good court time under their belts.”
Northern Ireland will go to Czechia in October to face Ukraine, Czechia and France in the group qualifiers.Any players wanting to get involved in international futsal should contact Keith.gibson@irishfa.com
Northern Ireland squad: goalkeepers – Alice Harkness-Armstrong, Laura Devine; fixes – Jane McMaster, Jessica Rea, Sarah Crooks; pivots – Amber Dempster, Claire Shaw, Rachel McConnell; wingers – Aimee-Lee Peachey, Megan Weatherall, Sam Kelly, Louise Devlin, Sasha Funston, Beth McKay, Chloe Doak, Ellen McCartney.
