A single goal was the difference in St. George's Park as England overcame the Republic of Ireland Women's Under-19s in an International Friendly, but that didn't tell the full story.

Dave Connell's squad had spent three productive days training at England's impressive training complex as they start over with a new group of players for the 2022/23 season.

Some players were unavailable due to injury, school exams and being involved with the WNT, but that provided opportunities for other players to impress.

Shelbourne defender Jessie Stapleton was a late arrival ahead of this game having been away with the WNT in Turkey and Georgia, but she slipped on the captain's armband and led by example in an outstanding performance.

Connell will have been pleased by the fighting spirit showed by his players, who used the ball well in possession and fought hard to win it back when England pressed them. There wasn't much between the teams at all.

In fact, Ireland will feel that they deserved to draw this encounter. But the final result wasn't the most important thing, it was the attitude of the players and the fact that they could execute the instructions given by the coaching staff.

With key UEFA European Championship qualifiers to come later in the year, this was a good test for Ireland and Connell will take a lot from it.

England: Faye Kirby; Reanna Blades, Halle Houssein, Naomi Layzel, Katie Dungate; Alyssa Aherne, Hannah Silcock, Alex Hennessy, Libbi McInnes; Emma Thompson, Elysia Boddy.

Republic of Ireland: Summer Lawless (Katie Keane 68); Meabh Russell (Amy Madden 68), Abbi Tuthill (Kate Thompson 46), Jessie Stapleton, Tara O'Hanlon; Maria Reynolds (Nicole McNamara 46), Sophie Morrin (Eve Dossen 80); Chloe Atkinson (Scarlett Herron 46), Jamie Thompson (Orlaith O'Mahony 46), Lia O'Leary (Aoife Mohan 80); Jenna Slattery (Keri Loughrey 68).

Referee: Rosie Johns.