Northern Ireland were narrowly defeated by England as they began their UEFA Women’s Under-17 Euro 2026 journey at Larne’s Inver Park this afternoon.
England scored a goal in either half to take maximum points in the Group A encounter.
The opening game in the UEFA European Women’s Under-17 Championship 2026, which is being hosted by the Irish FA over the next two weeks, was watched by just over 800 spectators.
England dominated possession, however Northern Ireland battled hard and played some positive football against their more illustrious opponents.
England pushed forward from the start, although they found it hard to penetrate the well organised Northern Ireland defence.
The first clearcut chance in the Group A encounter fell to England winger Cairo-Eva Antoine who smashed a shot against the post from an acute angle.
England’s Kyri Teer-Hutchins whipped a lovely cross to the back post where Antoine just failed to connect with it.
On 20 minutes England struck the woodwork again. Bryony-Rose Brodie produced a low drive which hit the base of the post.
Northern Ireland’s Emilee Leacock went on a driving run through the middle, however England keeper Victoria Rudz raced off her line to collect the ball.
Striker Freya Hirons thought she had scored for England but she was deemed to be offside when she slotted the ball into the net.
England opened the scoring in the 29th minute, Phoebe De Bohan bundling the ball into the net after a Northern Ireland defender failed to deal with an Antoine cross.
Centre back Lucy Robinson ran at the heart of the Northern Ireland defence and let fly. Northern Ireland keeper Ifeoma Agoha comfortably gathered in her shot.
Just before the break Hirons guided a header over the bar as England pushed forward and Northern Ireland defended resolutely.
England started the second half on the front foot. Substitute Mia Dixon guided a header inches over the bar.
Leacock burst through again for Northern Ireland, however the England keeper smothered the ball.
England had a couple of half-chances as the game followed the pattern of the first: England pushing forward and Northern Ireland defending. The back four of Daisy Moore, Holly Hilton, Sara Devany and captain Chloe Beckinsale, ably supported by Mirjana Karrabecaj, Heidi Curran and Charlotte Havern, were excellent.
Substitute Sydney Wilson showed some good footwork, however the England defence cleared the danger.
On 75 minutes Abbie Smyth got in behind the England defence but she snatched at the ball and her effort sailed over the top.
Seven minutes later England made it two. Substitute Chelsea N’Drin found De Bohan inside the area. Her initial strike was pushed out by Agoha, however De Bohan made no mistake when tucking away the rebound.
In added time Agoha pulled off a great stop from N’Drin as she got in behind the Northern Ireland defence and fired a shot towards goal. It kept the final score at 2-0 to England.
Gail Redmond’s Northern Ireland WU17s side will be back in action on Thursday (7 May) when they take on Norway at Coleraine Showgrounds (6pm) and then it’s back to Inver Park in Larne for their final Group A game against Germany on Sunday (10 May) at 3pm.
Tickets for all the games at the WU17 Euros in Northern Ireland are available at irishfa.com/wu17euro.
Northern Ireland: Ifeoma Agoha, Daisy Moore, Holly Hilton, Sara Devany, Chloe Beckinsale (captain), Mirjana Karrabecaj, Emilee Leacock, Heidi Curran, Abbie Smyth, Charlotte Havern, Maja Stachura.
Substitutes: (used) Sydney Wilson, Siun Kirby, Zion Donnan, Anna Rose Robinson, Grace Steele; (unused) Sophie Glover (GK), Leah Hepburn, Ellie McGarrigle, Ava Hurl.
England: Victoria Rudz, Maisie Brickell, Katie Scott (captain), Isabella Cowley, Lucy Robinson, Gabriella Storey, Cairo-Evea Antoine, Bryony-Rose Brodie, Freya Hirons, Kyri Teer-Hutchins, Phoebe De Bohan.
Substitutes: (used) Sophia Burton, Zoe Ciccardini, Mia Dixon, Chelsea N’Drin, Abigail Jones; (unused) Evie Mitchell (GK), Romia Gagliano, Lottie Day.
Action from Inver Park
