UEFA WU19 Euro 2025 qualifiers
Northern Ireland WU19s 3-0 Montenegro WU19s
Scorers: Sofie Keenan (58’), Aimee Kerr (68’), Clodagh Maguire (80’)
NORTHEN Ireland’s Women’s Under-19 team produced another impressive display in defeating Montenegro in a Euro qualifier played in Albania.
Boss Gail Redmond made three changes from the side that defeated Azerbaijan 4-0 in Northern Ireland’s first game in the four-team League B Group 4 mini tournament in stage two of the UEFA WU19 Euro 2025 qualifiers.
For the game against Montenegro, who defeated hosts Albania 2-1 in their first game, Redmond brought in goalkeeper Kate Smith, midfielder Clodagh Maguire and striker Rhianna Breen.
They replaced keeper Ellie Scott, Rachel McIntyre and Sophie Gargan.
The winners of League B Group 4 will be promoted to League A for stage one of the qualifiers for WU19 Euro 2026 this autumn.
Northern Ireland attacked from the get-go. As early as the second minute striker Gracie Conway set up Rhianna Breen and she forced a save out of Montenegro keeper Jovana Zugic.
Niamh Boothroyd and Darcie McNeill steered efforts wide as Northern Ireland pushed forward, and Clodagh Maguire had a shot blocked.
Attacker Larisa Durkovic had Montenegro’s first attempt on goal just after the half-hour mark.
Keeper Kate Smith made the save.Zugic was called into action again to keep out a Breen strike.
Then Maguire dribbled past a couple of defenders before slipping the ball to Conway, but her shot was blocked.
Minutes before the break Faye Loughran’s header was just off target and Aimee Kerr fired a free-kick over the bar.
Half-time: Northern Ireland WU19s 0-0 Montenegro WU19s
After the interval it was all Northern Ireland. Breen missed a chance and Zugic saved from Boothroyd, although Smith had to be on her toes to keep out an effort from Montenegro captain Katarina Cadenovic down the other end.
The breakthrough came on 58 minutes. Sofie Keenan fired a free-kick into the Montenegro wall, however she slammed the rebound into the bottom corner to make it 1-0 to Redmond’s team.
Montenegro defender Vlada Milovic was shown a red card for kicking out at a Northern Ireland player before the girls with the Giant’s Causeway imprint on their shirts doubled their lead in the 68th minute.
Conway broke down the right and played the ball to Kerr who smashed it home.
It was a great hit.Zugic made saves from Loughran, substitute Bernie Ferreira and Keenan before Maguire made it 3-0.
The third goal came on 80 minutes. Substitute Anastasija Stanyte teed up Keenan, whose shot was pushed away by Zugic, however Maguire was on hand to slot home the rebound.
In the closing stages Zugic kept out efforts from Kerr and substitute Ellen Hampton, and Ferreira shot wide of the target, however Northern Ireland had the points firmly in the bag by that stage.
The WU19s will complete the mini tournament with a game against Albania at Elbasan Arena in Elbasan on Monday (February 24).
The two wins in the group to date mean they will only require a draw in that one to make sure of promotion to League A for the next set of qualifiers.
Afterwards Gail Redmond said: “I was delighted with the performance. We had to be patient and disciplined to break down Montenengro’s low block.
“We were intentional in our build-up play. It was a really professional performance.
“Full credit to the entire team. Our finishers came on and raised the level, and it’s brilliant to have kept another clean sheet.”
Full-time: Northern Ireland WU19s 3-0 Montenegro WU19s
Northern Ireland WU19s: Kate Smith, Orleigha McGuinness, Sofie Keenan, Faye Loughran, Abi Sweetlove (captain), Darcie McNeill, Clodagh Maguire, Niamh Boothroyd, Rhianna Breen, Aimee Kerr, Gracie Conway. Substitutes: (used) Niamh O’Donnell, Bernie Ferreira, Sophie Kelly-Bradley, Ellen Hampton, Anastasija Stanyte; (unused) Ellie Scott (GK), Rachel McIntyre, Sophie Gargan.
Montenegro WU19s: Jovana Zugic, Tamara Milovic, Slavica Krstevska, Vladana Boricic, Jelena Radevic, Vlada Milovic, Katarina Cadenovic (captain), Jelena Nikcevic, Tatjana Osmajic, Larisa Durkovic, Angelina Dresaj. Substitutes: (used) Dunja Bojanic, Bojana Buckovic, Darija Cizek, Amra Mehovic; (unused) Anja Jovanovic (GK), Anastasija Zarubica, Ajla Frljuckic, Ena Spahic
