Photos by Bob Hall
NORTHERN Ireland’s Women’s Under-19 team drew 1-1 with Hungary’s WU19s in an entertaining friendly in Ballyclare.
Boss Gail Redmond chose a 20-strong panel for the friendly at the home of Ballyclare Comrades FC.
Redmond has started to integrate several new players into her squad as she moulds a new team ahead of Euro qualifiers in late autumn.
Most of the new faces have previously played for Northern Ireland at WU17 level.
Both teams started brightly. Northern Ireland had the first corner of the game after just two minutes, but the ball was cleared by the Hungarian defence.
Hungary went close before taking the lead on 17 minutes, Fanni Murar clipping the ball home from close range.
Northern Ireland drew level just after the half-hour mark. A Sofie Keenan free-kick was met by captain Faye Loughran and she slotted the ball home.
On the stroke of half-time Hungary keeper Dora Ascher made a fine fingertip save to keep out a Keenan free-kick.
Half-time: Northern Ireland WU19s 1 Hungary WU19s 1
On 50 minutes substitute keeper Kate Smith produced a superb save to repel a blaster from Hungary attacker Eszter Csaki.
After that both teams had half-chances, although Northern Ireland largely controlled the game.
Ascher kept the scores level with a good stop from a Rhianna Breen effort as the game drew to a close.
In the closing stages Ascher produced another good save to deny another Northern Ireland sub, Rebecca Mann.
It was a useful exercise for Redmond’s side, who will face Spain, Belgium and Iceland in stage one of the qualifiers for the 2024-25 edition of the UEFA Women’s U19 European Championship at the end of November, with Spain hosting the four-team League A Group 6 mini tournament.
Full-time: Northern Ireland WU19s 1 Hungary WU19s 1
Line-ups
Northern Ireland WU19s: Cerys Sharkey, Sophie Magee, Sofie Keenan, Abi Sweetlove, Faye Loughran (captain), Darcie McNeill, Rachel McIntyre, Aimee Kerr, Kascie Weir, Bernie Ferreira, Niamh Boothroyd. Substitutes: (used) Kate Smith, Zara Boyd, Rebecca Mann, Niamh O’Donnell, Sophie Gargan, Rhianna Breen; (unused) Orleigha McGuinness, Anastasia Stanyte, Ella Parker.
Hungary WU19s: Dora Ascher, Fanni Kern, Lili Gyano, Sara Harmat, Dora Szabo, Borbala Vincze, Fanni Murar, Sara Szarvas (captain), Napsugar Sinka, Eszter Csaki, Sara Torok. Substitutes: Hedvig Kocsi (GK), Zsuzsanna Hecz, Tekla Pinter, Alexandra Nyul, Greta Banfi, Fruzsina Futaki, Marta Koszo, Petra Acsadi, Barbara Egi, Maria Turoczy, Emilia Csejtei.
