News
U17 ELITE TOURNAMENT
NEXT month Northern Ireland will play host to a 2009/10 UEFA European Under-17 Championship Elite round mini tournament.
Paul Kee’s side has been drawn against Belgium, Spain and Poland in Group 4, with the mini tournament taking place from March 17-22.
| Match schedule | Dates: | Kick-off: | Stadium: | |||
| Match day 1 | 17.03.10 | 3.00pm | Shamrock Park | Poland | v | Belgium |
| Match day 1 | 17.03.10 | 7.30pm | Coleraine | Spain | v | Northern Ireland |
| Match day 2 | 19.03.10 | 3.00pm | Mourneview Park | Spain | v | Belgium |
| Match day 2 | 19.03.10 | 7.30pm | The Oval | Northern Ireland | v | Poland |
| Match day 3 | 22.03.10 | 7.30pm | Coleraine | Poland | v | Spain |
| Match day 3 | 22.03.10 | 7.30pm | Mourneview Park | Belgium | v | Northern Ireland |
Northern Ireland’s U17 boys qualified for the Elite stage after they cruised through their qualifying tournament in Andorra last October – the side beat Malta and Andorra 2-0 and held their own against Holland - one of the classiest nations in youth football - only a second-half strike from Jurgen Locadia condemned Kee’s boys to a 1-0 defeat. However, it was still enough to get through to the Elite stage.
There’s little doubt that Kee would love to lead Northern Ireland to the Finals in Liechtenstein in May. “It’s not going to be easy as only the top side in each group in the Elite stage will get to the Finals. We know what to expect but it doesn’t make it any easier. Our boys have done really well to get this far. They just need to go to the next level and enjoy it and you never know.”
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