Second-half goals from Finley Newell and Della Cowper-Gray earned the Ireland Women's Under-19s a 2-2 draw with France in UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship qualifying.

After losing their first game in Group A6 to Germany, the Girls in Green needed to bounce back in this game in Essen. The concession of a 34-minute goal to France's Lina Gay certainly didn't help.

However, a second-half fight-back got them back in it with the introduction of Hazel Donegan giving them more speed in their attacking play and they got their reward on 54 minutes when Newell fired in.

Just past the hour mark, Ireland took the lead through Shamrock Rovers attacker Cower-Gray and that looked to be the winner until Léa Morissaint equalised for France.

Ireland now take on Slovakia on Thursday in their final group game with at least one point secured and another noteworthy display.

Ireland: Enya Carthy; Sophia Leonard, Finley Newell, Clodagh Daly (Hazel Donegan 46), Lillie Quinlivan Coulson; Madison McGuane, Katie Lawlee; Maeve Wollmer, Hannah Healy, Ella Kelly; Della Cowper Gray.