Northern Ireland’s Under-19s produced a strong performance to defeat Malta 3-1 in a Euro qualifier staged in North Macedonia.
Competition
U19 Euro 2027 Qualifiers Round 2
Scoreline
Northern Ireland U19s 3-1 Malta U19s
Scorers
Northern Ireland: Kerr (27’ pen), Leacock (37’), McEvoy (69’)
Malta: Gaerty (74’)
Venue
FFM (North Macedonia Football Federation) Training Centre, Skopje
Date
14 November 2026
Team News
Northern Ireland’s Under-19s are facing Switzerland, North Macedonia and Malta in round two of the qualifiers for UEFA U19 Euro 2027 this month, with North Macedonia hosting the games in the League B Group 5 mini tournament.
For their second game in the group, U19s boss Gareth McAuley made three changes to the 11 that started the 0-0 draw with North Macedonia in their opening match.
Midfielder Matthew Burns and attackers George Feeney and Luke Hawe came in to the side.
Dropping to the bench were defender Coist Walker, midfielder Alfie Wilson and forward Sidney Eldred.
How it happened
Northern Ireland put Malta, who were defeated 6-0 by Switzerland in their first match, under pressure from the start.
Kalum Thompson had a shot blocked in the second minute. Calum Anderson got on the end of the resulting corner – it was delivered by Jay McEvoy – but his attempt on goal was also blocked.
Thompson forced a save out of Malta goalkeeper Vincent Tabone before he steered a shot wide. Another McEvoy corner was met by George Feeney and his effort was saved by Tabone, while Troy Savage fired wide and McEvoy had a shot blocked.
A McEvoy free-kick found Anderson, however he missed the target. Anderson then squandered a further opportunity before Savage had a shot blocked and McEvoy’s drive was pushed away by Tabone.
Malta had their first attack in the 21st minute. Attacker Denzel Attard was off target with his effort though.
Shea McGarry had a shot blocked and captain Callum Leacock failed to hit the target before Northern Ireland’s opener eventually came on 27 minutes. Malta defender Aeneas Farrugia upended Joel Kerr inside the penalty area and the winger duly stepped up to slot home the spot kick.
Tabone kept out strikes from McGarry and Luke Hawe, and Thompson had an effort blocked, before Northern Ireland extended their lead in the 37th minute. Leacock met a McEvoy corner and powered the ball into the net.
Malta defenders Sami Abo Assaf and Ben Gaerty and attackers Attard and Zyas Newell all had half-chances as Malta exerted some pressure towards the end of the half.
Half-time: Northern Ireland U19s 2-0 Malta U19s
Northern Ireland were on the front foot again at the start of the second half. Both Leacock and Kerr had opportunities, although Newell screwed an effort wide down the other end and Northern Ireland keeper Dan O’Keefe saved a shot from Newell.
Hawe, Kerr and Thompson all had opportunities before McAuley’s side increased their lead on 69 minutes. This time it was McEvoy who got on the scoresheet.
Northern Ireland substitute Paul McGovern had a shot blocked before Malta pulled a goal back through captain Gaerty, who steered home Pawley’s delivery from a corner.
Tabone saved a Kerr strike, McEvoy had a shot blocked and McGarry put an effort wide as Northern Ireland continued to press.
In the closing stages Northern Ireland substitute Coran Madden missed the target before O’Keefe kept out efforts from Malta subs Jaylen Zarb and Scott Camilleri.
In added time Madden forced another save out of Tabone, but Northern Ireland had done more than enough to secure all three points.
Northern Ireland’s final group game will be against group top seeds Switzerland on Tuesday (17 November). It’s due to be staged at the FFM Training Centre in Skopje (1pm CET). Switzerland edged past North Macedonia by a goal to nil today.
Full-time: Northern Ireland U19s 3-1 Malta U19s
Line-ups
Northern Ireland: Daniel O’Keefe, Callum Leacock (captain), Shea McGarry, Calum Anderson, Jay McEvoy, Troy Savage, Matthew Burns, Kalum Thompson, Luke Hawe, George Feeney, Joel Kerr.
Substitutes: (used) Paul McGovern, Coran Madden, Coist Walker, Broghan Sewell; (unused) Phoenix Blayney, Alfie McIlroy, Jahmi Kellyman, Alfie Wilson, Sidney Eldred.
Malta: Vincent Tabone, Aeneas Farrugia, Sami Abo Assaf, Ryan Debono, Ben Gaerty (captain), Pierre Poulangoye Mayelet, Luca Baldacchino, Daniel Pawley, Matteo Grech, Denzel Attard, Zyas Newell.
Substitutes: (used) Gunner Elliott, Sam Farrugia, Scott Camilleri, Jaylen Zarb; Adam Newell (GK), Sky Chetcuti, Matteas Caruana, Danny Sammut, Lydon Attard.
