Northern Ireland’s Under-16s found the going tough against a physically strong Finnish U16s team at a Four Nations Tournament in Finland.
Competition
Four Nations Tournament
Scoreline
Finland U16s 5-2 Northern Ireland U16s
Scorers
Finland: Kosmo Launiala (4), Ruslan Haapalainen
Northern Ireland: Oma Maali OG, Noah Vaugh
Venue
Jari Litmanen Arena, Eerikkilä
Date
23 September 2025
Team News
This week’s Four Nations Tournament features Finland, Iceland, Estonia and Northern Ireland. It is being staged at the Eerikkilä Sport and Outdoor Resort in southern Finland.
Northern Ireland U16s head coach Kris Lindsay has included seven new players in the 23-strong U16 panel from the 22-man squad that won the inaugural Gary Speed Cup in Wales last month.
Lindsay’s squad is largely made up of players who attend the Irish FA JD Academy.
How it happened
Northern Ireland had to be on their toes to repel a couple of Finland corners early on before Preston McKeown’s speculative effort from distance went over the bar.
Finland took the lead on 12 minutes. Captain Milton Kald slipped in Kosmo Launiala and he slotted the ball past Northern Ireland keeper Matthew Belshaw.
Mason Ayre tried to get in down the right but was thwarted by the solid Finnish defence. Then striker Odhran McHugh’s low shot was gathered in by Finland keeper Tobias Backman.
The lively Ruslan Haapalainen slipped past his marker and delivered a cross to fellow attacker Eemeli Eronen at the back post but he headed over the top.
Finland doubled their lead on 23 minutes when Haapalainen fed Emil Talvitie who spun away from his marker inside the area and slipped the ball to Launiala – and he made no mistake from 10 yards.
Belshaw made a fine stop from a Launiala header as the Finns continued to press, while Rory Prentner fired a shot over the top from distance.
Launiala completed his hat-trick just before the break. Eronen broke down the right and crossed the ball into the six-yard box where Launiala neatly tucked it home.
Half-time: Finland U16s 3-0 Northern Ireland U16s
Northern Ireland pulled a goal back just after the restart. A Jayden Doyle strike was pushed over the top by the Finnish keeper. Captain Harry Hughes fired the resultant corner towards the back post where it came off a Finnish head before being turned into his own net by Oma Maali.
Finland restored their three-goal advantage shortly after when Eronen fed Launiala and he stroked him his fourth goal of the match.
Eronen blasted a shot wide of the upright as Finland continued to enjoy the bulk of the possession.
On 70 minutes Finland added a fifth. Kald clipped a free-kick into the penalty area and Haapalainen stooped to head the ball home.
Northern Ireland kept working hard. Substitute Jay Forsythe’s header struck the post, while another sub, Cillian Murray, had a rasping shot pushed out by Backman.
In added time Northern Ireland got one back. Substitute Logan McKnight sped down the left flank and fed Murray, whose shot was pushed out by the keeper, however another sub, striker Noah Vaugh, was on hand to tap in the rebound.
Matchday two for the U16s is tomorrow (24 September) when they will face Iceland (13.00 start local time).
Full-time: Finland U16s 5-2 Northern Ireland U16s
Line-ups
Finland: Tobias Backman, Solo Shinyella, Konsta Tiainen, Paavo Ekholm, Milton Kald (captain), Eemeli Eronen, Emil Ahola, Hide Kumagai, Emil Talvitie, Kosmo Launiala, Ruslan Haapalainen.
Substitutes: Roni Koskinen (GK), Casper Lien (GK), Matias Moilanen, Otso Saikkonen, Max Toukonen, Joakim Nevalainen, Eetu Siltanen, Florijan Ferati, Eetu Pekkala, Jimi Pellikka, Aaro Salo, Kevin Jarju, Oma Maali.
Northern Ireland: Matthew Belshaw, Preston McKeown, Ennis Cohen, Alfie Pollock, Rory Prenter, Harry Hughes (captain), Jayden Doyle, Brayden McNally, Odhran McHugh, Mason Ayre, Padai O’Kane.
Substitutes: (used) Jude Crawford, Lukas Doherty, Cillian Murray, Logan McKnight, Jay Forsythe, Noah Vaugh, Jay McCafferty, Darryl Meenan; (unused) Luke Bellingham (GK), Daithi Holleran, Dan Patterson, Michael Mulholland.
