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Victory Shield Under 16 International
Northern Ireland	1	v	2	Scotland
Paul George 14 mins				Matthew Kennedy 43, 46 mins
Thursday 1 October 2009	Ballymena			Kick Off 7.40pm

A brace of goals by substitute Matthew Kennedy just after the interval dashed Northern Ireland's hopes of defeating Scotland in the Sky Sports Victory Shield for the first time since 1996.

It all looked so different in the first half as the home team set the pace right from the start. In the first minute Northern Ireland forced a corner on the left and Paul George’s cross went across the goal but no one from the home team could get a touch on the ball.

Five minutes later a free kick by David Morgan rebounded off the Scottish wall to Aaron Rogan whose volley was tipped over by Jack Wightman.

Another corner by George caused problems for the Scots who failed to clear properly and when the ball came out to the winger his thunderbolt from 25 yards flew into the net to give the home team a well deserved lead. Further efforts by George and Rogan were narrowly off target as Northern Ireland piled on the pressure.

The introduction of 3 substitutes at half time by Scottish Manager Ross Mathie produced an immediate effect as Kennedy met a cross from the right by Liam Polworth to force the ball just inside the upright. Three minutes later Kennedy raced onto a long clearance and shot home from 15 yards.

Despite these setbacks Northern Ireland fought back strongly with a Rogan volley which just cleared the bar while Seamus McCartan caused havoc in the visitors’ defence. In the closing stages Northern Ireland bombarded the Scottish goal and a Shane McKinney header went inches past the post but Scotland held out for a very fortunate victory.

	Northern Ireland				Scotland
No	Name	School		No	Name	School
1	Conor BRENNAN	St. Colmcille’s		1	Jack WIGHTMAN	Broxburn Academy
2	Aaron ROGAN	St. Joseph’s Derry		2	Marcus FRASER	Turnbull High
3	Matthew CLARKE	Strabane High School		3	Mohammed YAQUB	Lenzie Academy
4	Shane McKINNEY	Craigavon Senior HS		4	Shane ROOK	Webster’s High
5	Matthew DEIGHAN	St. Malachy’s College		5	Scott CAMPBELL	Ross High School
6	Douglas WILSON	Markethill HS		6	Joseph CHALMERS	Trinity High School
7	Paul GEORGE	St. Ninian’s		7	Craig SLATER	Rosshall Academy
8	David MORGAN	Nottingham Academy		8	Lewis MacLEOD	Coltness High
9	Shane MEENAN	St. Peter’s Derry		9	Dale CARRICK	Boroughmuir High
10	Noel LAWLESS	St. Paul’s Lurgan		10	Jack GRIMMER	Westhill Academy
11	Luke CONLAN	St. Columba’s		11	George SCOTT	Lochend Community

	SUBSTITUTES				SUBSTITUTES
17	Seamus McCARTAN	St. Colman’s Newry	40 mins - Meenan	14	John HERON	St. Andrew’s High
16	Paul McELROY	St. Patrick’s Dungannon	53 mins - Conlan	15	Liam POLWORTH	Charleston Academy
15	Joshua BARTON	Craigavon Senior HS	58 mins – George	16	Matthew KENNEDY	Prestwick Academy
18	Conor CONNOLLY	St. Mary’s CBGS	74 mins – Lawless	13	Ryan CARNWATH	Duncanrigg High

	SUBSTITUTES	DID NOT PLAY			SUBSTITUTES	DID NOT PLAY
12	Chris JOHNS	Banbridge Academy		12	Jack HAMILTON	Denny High School
14	Thomas HEALEY	St. Patrick’s Downpatrick		17	Thomas REILLY	Kilwinning Academy
19	Conall McGRANDLES	Meanscoil		18	Lee COCHRANE	Trinity High School


The Northern Ireland Under 16 Team which played Scotland at Ballymena on 1 October 2009

Edwin Ferris

(NISFA Press Officer)