After Tuesday’s 3-1 loss, the Ireland Women's Under-17s finished off their September camp on a high by beating Portugal 5-2 in Lisbon.

Ireland started off well in the 24 degree Portuguese heat, passing back and forth and trying to get a feel of the Portuguese formation. 

The all-important first goal came in the 11th minute after fantastic work by Ava Mullins to win back the ball. She played a pass through to Anna Butler who slotted the ball past the Portuguese keeper impressively.

Two chances followed soon after, one headed over by Butler and one chance from Emma Gaughran, whose cross was nearly put into the goal by a Portuguese player.

Portugal started to come back into the game however and in the 42nd minute, Francisca Vieira got the ball into the back of the net after her original shot was well saved by Laura Fanning. 

Before the end of the half, Mullins created a great chance for herself, making space past one Portuguese player, but her shot was just over the bar landing on the roof of the net.

The second half started much the same as the first. Ireland went behind in the 58th minute with Portugal’s Luana Bessa slotting it past Fanning.

It was clear that super-sub Aisling Meehan just couldn’t wait to get herself onto that pitch. She scored within just three minutes of coming on. A lovely flick on by Butler found Meehan and calmly placed it home.

Meehan didn’t stop there, getting another in the 71st minute, and another fantastic finish in the 77th minute to put Ireland 4-2 up.

The icing on the cake came in the last minute of extra-time when Ireland were awarded a penalty, which Leah McGrath put away confidently.

A great display for our WU17’s ahead of their UEFA WU17 European Championship qualifiers in November.

Portugal: Leonor Serralheiro; Iris Fernandes, Laura Rilho, Laura Silva, Francisca Vieira, Carolina Simões, Rita Lourenco, Vitoria Cordeiro, Matilde Matos, Eva Carreira, Marta Filipe.

Ireland: Laura Fanning; Michaela Hand, Finley Newell, Aibhlinn Cotter, Emma Gaughran (Maeve Wollmer 66); Fiona McCormick (Sarah McCaffrey 83), Madison McGuane (Kate Jones 83); Lauren Bowe (Sophia Leonard 66), Ella Kelly (Leah McGrath 66), Anna Butler (Aoife Sheridan 83); Ava Mullins (Aisling Meehan 46).