Cork City's Tom McGrath nets the winner for Ireland's U16s against Finland

Shamrock Rovers’ Noble Tetteh showed great feet to beat his man before pulling back his cross for McGrath to steer home the decisive strike.

Fri, 28 Feb, 2025 - 17:43

Cian Locke

Republic of Ireland 2 Finland 1

Two first-half goals saw the Republic of Ireland U16s overcome Finland 2-1 in the second of a friendly double-header at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown on Friday.

Bohemians’ Josh Harpur scored from the spot on his first start for Ireland while Cork City’s Tom McGrath netted what proved to be the winner after the Irish had suffered a 2-3 loss in their first friendly.

All the goals came in the first half with Ireland finding themselves behind after two minutes when Finland were awarded a penalty that Mustafa Mahmood converted.

But their lead would last 15 minutes when Harpur was pulled down in the box and referee Eoghan McAuliffe pointed to the spot with the Bohs youngster picking himself before firing home.

Five minutes later Ireland were ahead. Shamrock Rovers’ Noble Tetteh showed great feet to beat his man before pulling back his cross for McGrath to steer home the decisive strike.

Republic of Ireland: Moloney, Gabbidon (Prizeman, 55’), Spaight, Burke, O’Connor (Sullivan, 65’), McGrath, Egan (Spelman, 65’), Quigley,, Keoghan (Molloy, 55’), Tetteh (Byrne 87’), Harpur (Mohan, 65’).

Finland: Niittyvirta, Barrett, De Nascimento, Paanen, Kesonen (C), Kuusniemi, Virnes, Mendolin, Meltoranta, Mahmood, Zaberaxha. Substitutes: Lahti, Kroupkin, Heikari, Kangasniemi, Malinen, Kaasik, Mäkeläinen, Korkala, Koivuranta, Nybäck, Valkealahti.