Thirteen players made their international debuts for either the Northern Ireland senior men’s team or the senior women’s team during 2023.
The youngest debutant in the senior men’s international side was West Ham United striker Callum Marshall, who was 18 when he made his bow against Denmark in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier back in June. He turned 19 at the end of November.
Another debutant this year was 19-year-old Isaac Price, who began 2023 on Everton’s books before switching to Standard Liege in Belgium.
When Price scored against Slovenia, in Ljubljana in early September, he became the first teenager to find the net for Northern Ireland since Kyle Lafferty netted against Liechtenstein in August 2007 when aged 19.
The young attacker, who celebrated his 20th birthday at the end of September, also became the 37th teenager to register a full international goal for Ireland/Northern Ireland since 1882.
Another teen making his senior debut during 2023 was West Ham United’s Michael Forbes (19). The young defender was a late substitute against Finland in Helsinki last month.
Teenagers were given a chance in the senior women’s team, too.
Cliftonville Ladies defender Fionnula Morgan was still 19 when she played for Northern Ireland Women for the first time in July. She turned 20 the following month.
Morgan’s club mate Rachael Norney, who has since joined Liverpool Feds, was 19 when she made her senior international bow against Czechia (Czech Republic) in July, while fellow keeper Lilie Woods (Mid Ulster Ladies) was also 19 when she made her debut in the same game.
And earlier this month 18-year-old Linfield Women striker Keri Halliday (above) earned her first senior cap against Albania (away).
Here’s the full list of debutants in 2023:
Men's senior debuts
Isaac Price (23 March v San Marino - away - European Championship Qualifier)
Cameron McGeehan (23 March v San Marino - away - ECQ)
Callum Marshall (16 June v Denmark - away - ECQ)
Brad Lyons (17 October v Slovenia - home - ECQ)
Eoin Toal (17 October v Slovenia - home - ECQ)
Michael Forbes (17 November v Finland - away - ECQ)
Ross McCausland (17 November v Finland - away - ECQ)
Women's senior debuts
Shannon Turner (6 April v Wales - away - friendly)
Fi Morgan (14 July v Scotland - away - friendly)
Rachael Norney (18 July v Czechia - away - friendly)
Lille Woods (18 July v Czechia - away - friendly)
Maddy Harvey-Clifford - (pictured, below) (1 December v Albania - away - UEFA Women’s Nations League)
Keri Halliday (1 December v Albania - away - UWNL)
