Ireland Boys Under-15s ended their 2025 Torneo Delle Nazioni campaign with a 2-0 win over UAE in Italy.

A second-half Archie Quinn double sealed the win taking his international goal tally to 10 – a record at Ireland Under-15s age grade.

Looking to end their season on a high, Ireland had to remain patient in the early stages on the game on a difficult pitch. It would be after the waterbreak that they began to show their quality.

Corey Fay saw his attempt strike the foot of the post and out for a goal kick. Shortly after, Galway United’s Jonathan Echefu’s acrobatic effort fell onto the roof of the net and moments later he saw his blistering strike narrowly miss the UAE goal as Ireland upped the tempo.

But with the heat rising to 26C in north western Italy it would take until the second half for the breakthrough to come.

A cross-field free-kick was taken quickly and fell into the path of Ethan Kelly who saw his touch drop into the path of Quinn who fired in beyond Saeed Albreki. The goal was his ninth of the campaign, the most for an Under-15s player in an international season.

But the afternoon would get better for the Shamrock Rovers’ striker. With 10 minutes remaining Quinn was felled in the penalty area and he stepped up to convert the spot-kick taking his numbers for the season to 10 goals.

Speaking after the game Head Coach Jason Donohue said: “The strength and depth of the squad of 20 meant everyone had opportunities to start a game. The four performances were excellent. We were unlucky not to win the Czechia game and then we played Austria less than 24 hours later and we just ran out of steam towards the second half.

"It’s a testament in the players that opposition managers around the tournament were approaching our coaches and complimenting the way we played. It’s great other European nations are acknowledging that we're getting technically stronger and it’s down to the hardwork of their players and their clubs.

“It’s a strong end to their international season, some of them will now be looking to build on this with the Under-16s Head Coach Paul Osam. He was here in the last two games, and was impressed which gives him further options for his team."

Ireland: Byrne, Nolan, Nicholls, Afonin, Kibaga, O’Dwyer (C) (Zeller, 36’), Rascau (Kelly, 36’), Fay (Aliyev, 36’), Devereux Lynch (Daly, 36’), Quinn, Echefu (Collins, 36’)

UAE: Saeed Albreki, Abdullah Alabdooli (C), Abdullah Bani, Afghan, Swed, Hasan Alhammadi, Al Ali, Matar Alhammadi, Issa Albalooshi, Abdullah Albooshi, Alshamsi. Substitutes: Hussain Albooshi, Saeed Salim, Al Gheilani, Qambar Robari, Derouiche, Muller, Mohammed Qasem, Al Zarooni, Ahmed Ezzaldin, Saeed Abdullah, Abdulrab Almaleki

Ireland Boys Under-15s Squad

Goalkeepers: Alex Byrne (Shamrock Rovers), Charlie McGarvey (Sligo Rovers).

Defenders: Maxim Afonin (Shamrock Rovers), Rian Ennis ( Shamrock Rovers), Jayden Marshall (Shamrock Rovers), Kimson Kibaga (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Ben Nicholls (Bohemians), Charlie Nolan (Shamrock Rovers).

Midfielders: Aydin Aliyev (SpVgg Greuther Furth), Johnny Collins (Shamrock Rovers), Ciaran Daly (Shamrock Rovers), Blake Devereux Lynch (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Josh O’Dwyer (Shamrock Rovers), Adrian Rascau (Bohemians), Bobby Zeller (Shamrock Rovers).

Forwards: Jonathan Echefu (Galway United), Corey Fay (Shamrock Rovers), Ethan Kelly (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Daniel O’Halloran (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Archie Quinn (Shamrock Rovers).

Torneo Delle Nazioni Results
Saturday, April 26 | Ireland 1-1 Czechia
Sunday, April 27 | Austria 2-0 Ireland
Tuesday, April 29 | Ireland 3-0 Saudi Arabia
Thursday, May 1 | Ireland 2-0 UAE