Niall Harrison and John Morling, Head Coaches respectively of the Republic of Ireland Under-15 and Under-16 squads, summarised their campaigns in a positive fashion.

The Under-15 squad completed their season of six matches with a double-header away to Austria last week, which resulted in two wins. Those matches followed double-headers against the Aspire Academy (Qatar) in December and Belgium in February.

Harrison said: "I felt that there was an upward line of improvement in the squad as the season developed.

"This was their first experience of international football and they learned new things along the way, especially coming up against different systems of play. For example, Austria started with a 3-4-3 formation against us that week and the lads soon adjusted.

"Our main aim throughout was to be able to hand over a pool of players to the Under-16s in the summer and I think we've got a strong group of around 25 players. There will be other late developers that will emerge too."

For Under-16 chief John Morling, he led his troops into their first assignments last September, as they faced Latvia and hosts Estonia in a triangular tournament. A comprehensive win over Latvia preceded a goalless draw against the home nation.

There followed a training camp in England during November, consisting of tests against Academy teams from Sunderland FC and Leeds United FC, before they resumed international fixtures in January away to Portugal. Those games in the Algarve proved hugely encouraging as Ireland claimed a win and a draw from the pair of fixtures.

Finally, Morling brought two squads, A and B, to Brussels in April for a pair of double-headers. The A team responded to a five goal drubbing on the opening day to win the repeat fixture 4-1 two days later. There was plenty of be satisfied with about the performance of the B squad too, as they followed up a 3-1 win with a 6-0 triumph.

"It's been a very satisfying season for the Boys and they can take a lot into the Under-17 UEFA qualifying campaign which begins in September," said Morling.

"Overall during the season, there was only one defeat but the way the lads responded to that loss by winning the rematch against Belgium a couple of days later said a lot about their character.

"These players have worked hard throughout the season and been very professional while on international duty - both on and off the field."

The Republic of Ireland will meet Sweden, Romania and group hosts Macedonia from 29 September – 4 October in the UEFA Under-17 qualifiers aiming to clinch one of the two berths on offer into the elite stage.

"We're finalising our preparation schedule for next season already and will start those activities in the summer," concluded Morling. 

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