A late goal saw the USA record a 1-0 victory over the Ireland Women's Under-19s in an International Friendly in Portugal.

After losing 3-0 to Portugal in the first of two games in this international window, Head Coach Dave Connell wanted to give more game-time to each player and make the most of this challenge.

US-bor​n goalkeeper Enya Carthy made her WU19 debut and she did not concede until the 80th minute as Ireland held firm against a very good American side.

Bohemians midfielder Aoibhe Brennan led by example as captain with some crunching tackles and neat passing, while Anna Butler, Katie Lawlee and Hannah Healy also impressed from an attacking perspective.

The work-rate on show was indicative of a team coached by Connell - and his support staff - and they made sure that this contest was not easily won by the opposition.

The bigger picture is the UEFA European Championship Qualifying campaign, which kicks off in late November in Bulgaria, but Ireland will take a lot of good points from this performance.

Ireland: Enya Carthy; Lillie Quinlivan Coulson (Aibhlinn Cotter 78), Sophia Leonard (Lucy O'Rourke 72), Clodagh Daly (Emma Gaughran 78), Ella Kelly (Katie O'Reilly 78); Aoibhe Brennan (Hazel Donegan 87), Finley Newell; Lauren Bowe (Maeve Wollmer 46), Hannah Healy (Della Cowper Gray 72), Katie Lawlee (Lucy Fitzgerald 72); Anna Butler (Sorcha Melia 72).