Northern Ireland’s Powerchair development squad produced some fine performances on their way to finishing runners-up in the Home Nations Cup.
SportScotland Inverclyde National Sport Training Centre was the venue for the international tournament organised by the Fédération Internationale de Powerchair Football Association (FIPFA).
At the tournament Northern Ireland faced England, Scotland and Republic of Ireland.
The young Northern Ireland team were defeated by an impressive England side in the final, however coach Michael Hilland was delighted with their performances at the event.
The Northern Ireland team featured Simon Lecky (GK), Jason Browning, Reuben Walls, Bartek Kuszkowski, Kyle Forster and Ellie Brown (captain).
They faced England in the opening game of the tournament, with Lecky starting in goals and Forster and Brown on the wings either side of centre Walls.
Efforts from Walls and Forster were kept out, while England forced several smart saves from Lecky. With five minutes to go in the first half England slotted the ball home from a well worked free-kick routine to make it 1-0.
After the break England pushed all four players up in search of a second goal. Lecky, pouncing on a moment of indecision, fired the ball from the edge of his box through a gap and all the way down the court and in for his first international goal and an equaliser for Northern Ireland.
With 10 minutes left on the clock both sides pushed forward. England were awarded a free-kick, right on the bye-line, which was fired in at pace and finished with conviction with just under five minutes to play.
In the last minute Walls won an indirect free-kick. He fired it in the direction of Brown who believed she had touched it home to dramatically draw level. However, the ball was deemed to have crossed the line before her touch, cutting short the celebrations among the travelling support.
Next up for Northern Ireland was a game against Scotland. Browning was brought in to start and captain in place of Ellie Brown
Northern Ireland were initially repelled by the woodwork and strong defensive work from Scotland before Walls broke the deadlock just before half-time, picking the ball up just inside the attacking half and driving at the Scottish defence with pace, showing great skill to hold off the goalkeeper and force the ball into the far corner.
Northern Ireland controlled the second half well with Browning getting on the end of a wicked cross from Forster to touch home and double his side’s advantage. The final score was 2-0.
Hilland’s team met the Republic in the first game of day two.
Unchanged from their success against the Scots, Northern Ireland started brightly.
Walls found Forster with a free-kick and he showed great composure to calmly slide the ball past the goalkeeper to put his team one up inside the first couple of minutes.
Northern Ireland played with great intensity, moving the ball and creating good openings. Their efforts were rewarded with Walls getting on the end of two corners from Forster to put them 3-0 up at the break – and that’s how it stayed.
The final was a rematch with England and the game played out much like the opening encounter in the tournament, with a big defensive display from Northern Ireland nullifying England’s attack.
Northern Ireland carved out counter-attack opportunities, however England’s quality eventually told as they ran out 3-0 winners.
Afterwards team coach Michael Hilland said: “The team can be proud of their performances. They played with enthusiasm and great belief in themselves.
“We have seen great progress from last year’s tournament with this youthful squad showing composure and personality to compete against good sides at this level.”
Northern Ireland’s Reuben Walls was named ‘Player of the Tournament’ (voted by the players, coaches and match officials).
Northern Ireland’s senior Powerchair team will also be in action at the SportScotland Inverclyde National Sport Training Centre soon as the FIPFA Senior Home Nations Cup runs from 24-25 May.
