BELGIUM BLUES AS U17’s SECURE DESERVED DRAW
Niall Curneen’s U17 squad were in great spirits as they arrived in Ghent on Saturday evening
With two tough games ahead coach Curneen held a team meeting before the team retired for the evening.
Sundays training sessions gave the players, and small band of supporters, a first glimpse of the likely team formation – an adaptable 4-2-3-1 formation that provided the defensive cover required but equally allowed for swift counter attacks.
On match day the girls were slow to start at the Aalter stadium allowing Belgium to control the opening quarter of an hour.
Sion Swifts Lauren Brennan, as a lone striker, worked tirelessly without reward.
With Belgium dominating in midfield manager Niall Curneen introduced a tactical change with Moya Feehan assigned to a man marking role in the middle of the park.
Gradually the NI girls came more into the game with the midfield sector pressing and closing down their opponents at every opportunity.
With NI dominating in midfield the Belgian strike force was forced to forage for scraps from a solid away defence
Defenders Catherine Sheridan and Hollie Campbell were now in total control and this gave Jessica Foy a license to push forward at every opportunity.
Caragh Milligan came more into the game and began to provide a vital link to striker Brennan as NI took control in the final ten minutes of the half.
The second half continued where the first left off with Northern Ireland pushing back their opponents.
Manager Curneen’s tactics looked spot on as Milligan and 1st Bangor’s Hollie Campbell raided down the flanks.
The Belgian defence made a number of poor challenges and almost paid the penalty when Campbell rattled the crossbar with a 25 yard free kick.
The U17’s were now totally dominant, closing down their opponents, and chasing every ball.
However as the players visibly tired from their efforts, Belgium almost took the lead when a speculative effort cannoned off the bar.
Manager Curneen introduced some fresh legs and this allowed the girls to regain the initiative and secure a thoroughly deserved draw
This was a terrific result for the team with everyone playing their part from players right through to the coaching staff.
The trip itself is tremendously beneficial in terms of development with the girls with the girls learning what it means to play international football, in a different country, and in extremely warm playing conditions.
Such trips help the girls to build up a togetherness and team spirit that will hold them in good stead for the challenges ahead!
In the 2nd game this afternoon Belgium ran out worthy winners 4-0 albeit Niall Curneen knows that he has a determined and hard working squad to continue working with as the Qualigying tournament comes to NI in October – with a game against our mainland friends England.
