Belgium U16 "A"...3-0 Republic of Ireland "B" U16
It was a similar tale for the Republic of Ireland "B" squad who pushed their Belgian "A" counterparts in the early stages only to gift their opponents some easy goals.
Ireland fashioned the best chances of the opening exchanges when Adam Evans sprinted down the left before drilling a cross into the unmarked David Graydon, who was denied a certain goal by a last-ditch defensive challenge.
All of their promising play came to nothing though and the hosts capitalised on two defensive lapses to score on each occasion and take a commanding interval lead.
The lively Evans continued to pose a threat in the second half, getting on the end of three separate moves that were each missed.
Substitute Jack Nardiello, too, was close to reducing the deficit only to fire off-target.
And Irelands profligacy was to be punished when the clinical Belgians added a third goal on 55 minutes to kill off any comeback prospects.
Darren Murray, coach of the Irish B squad, said: "We created 9 clear-cut chances but failing to take them at this level tends to be crucial.
"I think we got it tactically spot-on today against a very technically advanced Belgium side and put it up to them in a lot of areas.
"We had a lot of strong individual displays and though a lot of lads were relatively new to the international set-up, the experience they have gained by playing against a top side like Belgium will be invaluable to them in the future careers."
Murray concluded by stating: "The players showed a great attitude this week and are a credit to their clubs. I would also like to thank my staff of Jason Donoghue, Billy Hearne, Bobby Flood and Paul Sheridan for their work this week."
REP OF IRELAND U16 "B": Ian Lawlor (Home Farm); Glen Daly (Malahide United), Sean Kavanagh (Belvedere), Pierce Sweeney (Belvedere), Ronan Murphy (Killarney Ath); Brian Lenihan (College Corinthians), David Graydon (Cherry Orchard), Conor Pepper (Portmarnock); Mark Timlin (Buncrana Hearts), Adam Evans (Belvedere), Liam Martin (Donegal Town).
Substitutions: Jack Nardiello (Leicester City) for Martin, Darragh Murphy (Innishvilla) for R. Murphy, John McKeown (Belvedere) for B. Lenihan, Emmet Cotter (Midleton) for Timlin (all h/t), Shane McGinty (Kildrum Tigers) for Graydon (50 mins), John Kavanagh (Ringmahon Rangers) for Daly (60 mins), Darren O Donoghue (Belvedere) for Pepper (62 mins).
Under-16 Friendly Internationals:
Tuesday, April 27
Belgium B 3-4 Republic of Ireland A
Maasmechelen
Belgium A 1-0 Republic of Ireland B
Thursday, April 29
Belgium A 1-0 Republic of Ireland A
Tongeren
Belgium B 3-0 Republic of Ireland B
Tongeren. |
