Ireland Boys Under-16s ended their 2024/25 campaign with a 2-3 defeat against Egypt in the UEFA Development Tournament in Poland.

Two first-half goals from St. Patrick’s Athletic’s Joe Byrne weren’t enough to overcome a talented Egyptian side who struck twice in the final 15 minutes to take the victory.

Byrne had given Ireland the lead when his effort found its way past goalkeeper Abdelkhalek, Egypt then equalised before Byrne restored Ireland’s lead scoring directly from a corner kick.

Ireland looked to be heading to victory with 15 minutes remaining when Egypt were awarded a penalty which they duly dispatched to bring the game to 2-2.

Egypt would then go on to win the game 3-2 with nine minutes left on the clock. 

Ireland: Brunton (O'Leary, 46'), Spaight, Prizeman, Burke, Spelman, Sullivan (Ferizaj, 84'), McGrath (Egan, 68'), Dunne (Molloy, 68'), Quigley, Harpur (Mahon, 46'), Byrne (Tetteh, 84')

Egypt: Abdelkhalek, Sayed, Aloo Mohamed, Gamal Mohamed, Elshahat, Sabry, Tamer Ahmed, Abdelaziz, Galal, Abdelaziz Mohamed, Elsayed: Substitution: Ebeid Atef, Youssef, Fawzy, Ahmed, Fathy, Aham Mohamed, Amr Mohamed, Mohamed Towfik

Ireland Boys Under-16 Squad

Goalkeepers: Darragh Brunton (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Finn O’Leary (Wexford FC).

Defenders: Danny Burke (Shamrock Rovers), Leighton Dempsey (UCD), Aidan Gabbidon (Malmö FF), Josh O’Connor (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Tadgh Prizeman (Shamrock Rovers), Sean Spaight (Dundalk).

Midfielders: Curtis Egan (Bohemians), Richard Ferizaj (Bray Wanderers), Tom McGrath (Cork City), Kian Quigley (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Jason Spelman (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Niall Sullivan (St. Patrick’s Athletic).

Forwards: Joe Byrne (St. Patrick’s Athletic), David Dunne (Cork City), Josh Harpur (Bohemians), Ben Mahon (UCD), TJ Molloy (Dundalk), Noble Tetteh (Shamrock Rovers).
 

UEFA Development Tournament results 

Tuesday, May 13 | Poland 2-3 Ireland 
Thursday, May 15 | Canada 0-5 Ireland
Sunday, May 18 | Ireland 2-3 Egypt