ST PAUL’S Under-18s produced a spirited and encouraging performance but were ultimately undone by a clinical spell from Northern Ireland Schoolboys, who struck three times in the final 22 minutes to take a 3-1 victory at a rain-soaked Springfield.
Northern Ireland’s annual visit to the Island has a slightly different feel this year, with the visitors facing a club side alongside a representative Jersey XI, ahead of their midweek fixture against the JFA select squad. As expected, the Schoolboys arrived well drilled, physically sharp and eager to press from the outset.
They showed their intent early on, Stephen Kelly flashing an effort narrowly wide inside the opening minutes, before St Paul’s responded positively. Louis Robinson broke smartly down the right flank and delivered a dangerous cross that just evaded his team-mates in the middle.
In testing conditions, with persistent drizzle and a swirling south-easterly breeze, clear chances were at a premium. The hosts came closest to breaking the deadlock midway through the first half when captain Stan Dunne unleashed a fierce 25-yard drive that rattled the crossbar, drawing gasps from the crowd of 158.
At the other end, goalkeeper Afonso Freitas was called into action before the interval, producing a fine save to deny Jacob Bond as Northern Ireland threatened to assert control.
St Paul’s carried their momentum into the second half and were rewarded just before the hour mark with a deserved opener. Joey O’Toole pounced to dispossess a defender and rifled an outstanding strike from 20 yards into the top left corner, giving the Islanders a lead.
However, the visitors responded with the composure expected of an international development side. Ten minutes later, substitute Jack Martindale equalised with a delicate outside-of-the-boot lob from close range that floated over Freitas.
Northern Ireland then stepped up the tempo. Freitas produced another sharp save to deny Martindale when he broke clear, but moments later the visitors edged ahead as Cal Weatherup fired home from the right channel after being played through.
St Paul’s continued to battle, but the decisive moment came on the stroke of full time. A heavy touch from Freitas allowed Tiernan Brolly to capitalise and slot home a third, putting a gloss on the scoreline that perhaps flattered the visitors.
Despite the result, there were plenty of positives for St Paul’s and manager Chris Herlihy, with Dunne named Player of the Match after an excellent all-round display. For Northern Ireland, it was another valuable outing in a fixture that continues to offer a stern test for Jersey’s emerging talent.
A number of St Paul’s players are involved in the JFA Select XI set to face the same Northern Ireland squad on Wednesday evening.
