The Ireland Men’s Under-19s overcame Mexico Under-20s 2-0 in their final international friendly in Croatia this week.

A well-taken finish from Freddie Turley and a penalty from Cian Dillon earned the win for Tom Mohan’s team, who also won the tournament thanks to two 2-2 draws in their previous games against Greece and Croatia respectively.

Ireland started on the front foot having most of the possession and pressed Mexico into mistakes. But in a half of few chances a tantalising cross from Cory O’Sullivan, that was begging to be finished, and a header from Mexico’s Cesar Bustos was as close as either team got.

In the second half, it would take captain Freddie Turley to take matters into his own hands. In the 56^th minute, the Derby County man strode out from the backline exchanged a pass with Trent Kone-Doherty on the edge of the area before finding the corner for 1-0.

Ten minutes later it was 2-0 to Ireland. A goal-mouth scramble saw Dillon felled and the Shamrock Rovers man picked himself up to score from the spot.

It sets the Under-19s perfectly for next month’s U19 EURO Qualifiers in Moldova where they take on the hosts along with Azerbaijan and Iceland.

Mexico: Lara, Rossano, Ochoa (C), Bustos, Garza, Dominguez, Rico, Morales, Navarrete, Jiménez, Padilla. Substitution: Ochoa (GK), Pachuca, Levy, Serrato, Urias, Parras, Gonzalez, Barajas, Medrano, Uribe.

Ireland: O’Shea,  Grante, Ashbee (Kiernan, 72’), Turley (C), Cory O’Sullivan, Morley, McGrath (Ochoa Moloney, 62’), Akachukwu (McAndrew, 62’), Razi (Cathal O’Sullivan. 62), Kone-Doherty (Devaney, 62’), Okosun (Dillon, 62’).

International Friendly Results

Wednesday, October 10 | Ireland 2-2 Greece
Saturday, October 12 | Croatia 2-2 Ireland
Tuesday, October 15 | Mexico 0-2 Ireland