A stoppage time Desmond Armstrong goal secured a 2-2 draw for Ireland Boys’ Under-16s against Belgium at the Royal Belgium FA HQ in Tubize.

Second-half finishes from Samuel Ogungbe of St. Patrick’s Athletic and Shamrock Rovers’ Armstrong earned the draw in their first international outing of the season.

St. Pat’s goalkeeper Darragh Brunton produced a late penalty save which proved to be a  pivotal moment with Ireland going on to score minutes later.

Both teams had great chances to take the lead with Niall Sullivan and TJ Molloy both forcing saves from Belgium goalkeeper Mattis Seghers.

But the breakthrough for the hosts would come just before half-time when Jelle Driessen was able to break free before rounding the goalkeeper and slotting home for 1-0.

At half-time Head Coach Paul Osam made nine changes and one of those changes paid off immediately when Ogungbe finished from a cutback from Joe Byrne.

With eight minutes of normal time remaining Belgium went 2-1 ahead. Joshua Bethume saw his effort strike the cross bar before he followed up to apply the finish.

Two minutes later Belgium were awarded a penalty. With a chance to put the game to bed, Gabriel Biladi saw his spot-kick brilliantly saved by Brunton to keep Ireland in with a chance.

And it would prove a huge moment as Ireland went looking for an equaliser, Armstrong capitalised on a goal-mouth scramble to find the net in the 95^th minute.

The next action for the Boys’ Under-16s is a trip to Scotland for the Victory Shield next week.

Belgium: Seghers, Benktib, Dia, Driessen, El Morabet, Filippo, Hasaert, Mbavu (C), Muhire, Onia, Van Den Broeck. Substitutes: Desirs, Bayiha, Bethume, Biladi, Caes, Deraet, Kamara, Malamba, Rousseaux, Strouwen, Verstepen.

Ireland: Moloney (Brunton, 46’), Spaight (Prizeman, 46), Dumigan (C) (Greene, 46), Dempsey (Burke, 46’), Gabiddon, Sullivan, Collins (McGrath, 46’, Ferizaj (Spelman, 46’), Ikechukwu (Byrne, 46’), Dunne (Ogungbe, 46’), Molloy (Armstrong, 46’)