International Friendly Report: Ireland U15 1 - 3 Australia U16

Storm Isha's impending arrival sent Ireland Men's U15s upward trajectory off course as they lost 3-1 to a physically imposing Australian under 16s team.

Jason Donohue's side were unable to maintain their winning streak against the men from Down Under, coming off the back of stellar performances at the UEFA Development Tournament in Serbia last November, where they nullified Greece, Serbia, and Venezuela.

There was a noticeable difference in size between both teams as the squads struggled to warm up in a biting chill to a cacophony of 80s and 90s hits on pitch 3 at The National Training Complex in Abbotstown.

The Tricolour flags blew amongst a respectable attendance at the in-house friendly as the tie began with a number of crunching tackles followed by three dangerous balls into the box from a mix of free play and set pieces in the opening five minutes for The Australians.

The fourth delivery resulted in a deftly placed dink into the bottom right hand corner by

Smajic in the 6th minute to fire Australia into the lead.

Ireland were quick on the bounce, Richard Ferizaj converting a through ball which was disallowed, the referee deeming the Rovers midfielder offside.

The boys in green were now on the march, Australian Keeper Mason Jones-Hartnig, who sensed the impending danger, could be heard booming frantic instructions up the pitch to his teammates.

Ireland's greatest threat came on the left flank, with number 11 David Dunne giving the towering defender Lachlan Henderson much to do on the right channel.

Dunne's hard work paid off when he refused to give up on another hopeful long ball and converted in the 17th minute after Jones-Hartnig mistimed his intercept to bring Ireland level.

Donohue's side could have been 2 goals to 1 at half-time, a drive from Ireland's lively playmaker TJ Molloy skimming the crossbar and a free-kick by Danny Burke guided just wide of the far right post.

Despite some impressive link up play, Ireland were left frustrated as the half hour mark approached, their technical finesse stifled by a series of blows of the referee's whistle.

Australia punished Ireland for not being clinical in front of goal when Zsuzsa cruelly drove the ball into the bottom left hand corner just before the half-time whistle.

When play restarted for the second half, much to the appreciation of the spectators who bounced on the balls of their feet in an effort to keep warm, Australia solidified their win with a third goal, Smajic scoring number two to earn him a brace on the scoresheet.

Ireland kept the bulk of possession for the remainder of the half, however the swirling wind played to the visitors advantage, veering the ball off course whenever it was hoofed into the six yard box by a man in green or fired towards goal.

The Australian defence kept its nerve much like the drone that hovered stoically mid-air beneath the darkening clouds, despite pressure down the middle from St Pats forward Finn Duffy, who's niece could be heard cheering from the crowd.

Brody Collins, Niall Sullivan and Victor Ozhianvunaand stood over the ball just shy of the final whistle, with Collins shaving the ball over the crossbar as the lights on the cars in the FAI HQ car park blinked to life, housing those who were unable to bear the January chill any longer.

Given Ireland's high press in the second half and myriad of chances on goal the end result could have been 3-3, yet it finished 3-1 to the Ozzies.

A disappointing result for the Under 15s Men, with plenty of positives to build on for 2024.

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— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) January 23, 2024