Ellen Goggin was on target for the Ireland Women's Under-17s in a 3-1 defeat to Belgium in an International Friendly in Valencia, Spain.

In what was the first of back-to-back games, Belgium started strongly and forced Ireland goalkeeper Lucy Doyle Farrington into an early save after 18 minutes.

The Girls in Green (albeit wearing the away colours of white) respoinded with Shelbourne attacker Halle Harcourt firing a shot over the opposition bar after good work from Sligo Rovers' Ava Hallinan.

Belgum took the lead on 22 minutes when Liesanne Loose fired in and they doubled their lead six minutes later after Anna Corneillie converted a cross from Loren De Decker.

Ireland kept on pushing forward and moving the ball well through the transitions, which should have been rewarded with a goal on 29 minutes but the shot from Shamrock Rovers striker Ciara Milton was saved.

The Red Flames got their third goal on 41 minutes when the ball came off Keela Donnelly Meehan and went into the Ireland net.

Treaty United midfielder Goggin pulled a goal back on 50 minutes with a superb strike from inside the opposition's penalty area.

Ireland controlled the momentum in the second period and had goalscoring opportunities through Harcourt as well as substitutes Hailey Twomey and Mia Whelan but failed to convert.

Ireland: Lucy Doyle Farrington; Keela Donnelly Meehan, Ruby Boland (Norah Pustay 81), Ava Hallinan (Leah Hannon 81), Ava Kelly (Maisy Healy 72); Abbie Duffy (Leah O’Leary Callender 59), Ellen Goggin (Emily Staunton 72), Lara Dallaghan; Halle Harcourt (Aoibhe Galvin 81), Ciara Milton (Mia Whelan 59), Hailey Twomey (Skye Barrett 81).