Northern Ireland Women’s Under-15s enjoyed an emphatic win over Lithuania in their final game at a UEFA development tournament in Malta.
Competition
UEFA WU15s Development Tournament
Scoreline
Lithuania WU15s 1-8 Northern Ireland WU15s
Scorers
Northern Ireland: Leah Hepburn (3), Ella Kitson (3), Aoife Conlon, Cara McVeigh
Venue
Centenary Stadium, Ta’Qali
Date
21 September 2025
Team News
Northern Ireland WU15s head coach Stephen Graham made six changes from the team that started game two - a 2-1 defeat against Malta - in the four-team UEFA development tournament in Malta.
In came goalkeeper Ifeoma Agoha, defenders Katie McKenna and Gracey Livingston, midfielders Leah Hepburn and Cara McVeigh and attacker Sophie Nelson.
Also back was striker Ella Kitson, who grabbed a hat-trick in game one, a 3-2 win against Romania.
Dropping to the bench were keeper Grace Greenhill, defenders Molly Gray and Eva Dunlop, midfielders Anna Dunlop and Cara McVeigh plus attacker Lydia Devlin.
How it happened
Northern Ireland opened the scoring in the first minute and that set the tone for the game, which was played in sweltering conditions.
Katie McKenna and Sophie Nelson combined to feed Ella Kitson, who beat a defender before slipping the ball to Leah Hepburn and she finished well from the edge of the area.
Northern Ireland went two up when Kitson played in Hepburn again and she applied the finish.
Lithuania pulled a goal back with a strike from the edge of the area, however on 18 minutes Northern Ireland restored their two-goal advantage when Kitson outmuscled her marker, drove into the area and slotted the ball home.
Both captain Zion Donnan and Hepburn had decent efforts on goal before Hepburn completed her hat-trick on 30 minutes with a lovely finish.
Six minutes later Kitson curled a superb shot into the top corner from 18 yards to make it 5-1.
Down the other end Ifeoma Agoha made a great save to keep out a long range piledriver before Aoife Conlon made it 6-1. She controlled the ball inside the area and slammed it into the bottom corner.
Half-time: Lithuania WU15s 1-6 Northern Ireland WU15s
Shortly after the restart Donnan slipped the ball through to Kitson and she swept the ball home to register her second hat-trick of the tournament.
Kitson and substitute Lydia Devlin both had opportunities as Northern Ireland continued to press. Another sub, Molly Gray, caused problems for the Lithuania defence, while Sophia Gill was calm and composed in Northern Ireland’s backline.
Substitute Emilie Sylvester helped to put the icing on the cake when she fired a brilliant cross to the back post where another sub, Cara McVeigh, was on hand to slot the ball home.
Afterwards Stephen Graham said: “This has been a new experience for our young players, being away from home and dealing with the heat.
“But the standards on and off the pitch have been of a very high level and the experience will benefit the players greatly as they continue with their development.”
Full-time: Lithuania WU15s 1-8 Northern Ireland WU15s
Line-ups
Lithuania: Monika Kriunaite, Amelija Gudmundsson, Adele Baranauskaite, Gyte Saulenaite, Auguste Kriunaite, Julija Laurencikaite, Liepe Papievyte, Urte Balciute, Andreja Tamosauskaite, Ema Gerybaite, Rugile Kamienaite (captain).
Substitutes: Eivile Riteryte, Adrija Puskoriute, Audre Lucinskaite, Austeja Stelmokaite, Magdalena Liachovic, Liepa Zlatkute, Viktorija Libere, Taja Kutut, Gabija Lizdenyte.
Northern Ireland: Ifeoma Agoha, Katie McKenna, Gracey Livingston, Darcy Grayson, Sophia Gill, Lauren Kirkpatrick, Leah Hepburn, Zion Donnan (captain), Aoife Conlon, Sophie Nelson, Ella Kitson.
Substitutes: Grace Greenhill (GK), Molly Gray, Eva Dunlop, Lara Longridge, Connie Harper, Cara McVeigh, Anna Dunlop, Emilie Sylvester, Lydia Devlin.
