The Ireland Boys’ Under-16s have won the Victory Shield for the third-year-in-a-row after a 1-0 win over Northern Ireland.TJ Molloy scored late on to win Ireland the competition—their fifth Victory Shield title in all.
In a tight game, it was Paul Osam’s team who capitalised on a mistake in the Northern Irish back line, with Dundalk striker Molloy firing home to score the game’s only goal.
After Northern Ireland beat Scotland earlier in the week and Ireland overcame Cymru 3-2, it meant today’s game was a winner-takes-all contest.
That made for a tight affair at the Broadwood Stadium in Scotland, with the only chance of note in the first half coming from Joe Byrne, who saw his long-range effort easily dealt with by goalkeeper Michael Doherty.
In the second half, it was much more Ireland, with David Dunne’s trickery and pace causing the North more issues.
In the 55th minute, Ireland had a glorious chance. The ball dropped to Joe Byrne free in the box, but the bounce made it awkward to control and he was unable to fire off an effort which would have been a likely goal.
🏆🏆🏆🇮🇪
Three Victory Shield wins in a row
This is how our young Boys in Green did it 🗞️👉 https://t.co/CSGTkk2yxi#IRLU16 | #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/o6sU1G1Ckh
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) October 13, 2024
Ten minutes later, Northern Ireland had a great chance when their captain, Calum Anderson, got a free header at goal but couldn’t hit the target.
Molloy almost broke the deadlock moments later but he saw his header go safely into the goalkeeper’s hands.
Only a minute after that warning, Molloy found the net. A mix-up at the back saw Michael Doherty hesitate with the presence of Brody Collins and with the ball falling to the free Collins, he picked out Molloy to smash home.
The goal was Molloy’s third in the competition, having scored against Scotland and Cymru.
This competition win means that Paul Osam has led five different Under-16 sides to a title in the last nine years.
Ireland: Brunton (Moloney, 41’), Dempsey (Greene, 57’), Spaight (C), Dumigan (Gabbidon, 41’), Prizeman, Spelman, Ferizaj (Collins, 41’), Sullivan (McGrath, 77’), Dunne (Greene, 57’), Byrne, Armstrong (Molly, 41’)
Northern Ireland: Doherty, Anderson (C), Woods, Madden, Hawe, Kerr, Cassidy, Campbell, Ross, Gough, Longridge. Substitutes: Stanfield, Trainor, Murdock, Sweeney, Morrison, Smyth, Dolan, Tohill.
Ireland Victory Shield Results
Tuesday, October 8: Scotland 1-1 Ireland (Scotland won 4-3 penalties)
Thursday, October 11 | Ireland 3-2 Cymru
Sunday, October 13 | Northern Ireland 0-1 Ireland
