When Hungary goalkeeper Balázs Tóth brought down Mason Melia in the 15th minute of Monday’s Under-21s international friendly, little did he know he was about to present the St. Patrick’s Athletic forward with a shot at history.

In truth, Tóth can be forgiven, because even the teen who ran off to retrieve the ball after he was felled hadn’t any idea he was about to become the youngest ever Ireland Under-21s goalscorer.

The Wicklow-native placed the ball on the penalty spot at the Pinatar Arena in Spain’s south east. He strode back, gave his face a slight touch, checked the target, and took one final exhale of breath before beginning his run-up to the ball. Once there he struck the penalty firm and central as Tóth gambled with a dive to his left only to see the ball travel the opposite way. It would finish 3-1 to Ireland. 

Mason had scored for the Under-21s aged 17 years, 6 months and 2 days old. He had beaten the record set by Troy Parrott in September 2019 when he swept home the winner against Armenia aged a month older than Melia – 17 years, 7 months and 2 days.

“I honestly didn’t have a clue about the record,” said Mason. “I knew I would be up there but I didn’t know I would be the youngest. It’s nice to have that under your name. Especially when you’re there with Troy Parrott, Evan Ferguson and Adam Idah.”

Only 24 hours before, Parrott and Ferguson had started up front for the  senior team against Bulgaria. Parrott collected player of the match and Ferguson scored his fifth goal at that level. Evan is the third youngest goalscorer for the Under-21s (17 years, 11 months and 4 days), his header against Israel in the first-leg of the U21s play-offs was as vital a goal scored at that age grade. Fourth in the list is Adam Idah who was on target twice for the Under-21s in a 3-0 win over Luxembourg in March 2019 aged 18 months, 2 months and 5 days. Ironically he too played a big part in Sunday’s win over Bulgaria as he volleyed home the winner for Heimir Hallgrimsson’s men.

For Mason, who also holds the record for the youngest League of Ireland goalscorer (15 years, 9 months and 8 days), his debut for Jim Crawford’s team required a lot of patience. He was called into the squad for two crucial qualifiers against Norway and Italy last October but was ruled out due to injury. He missed the double header against Sweden last November as a result of the same injury while he wasn’t risked in the friendly against Scotland as a precaution.

So when Monday came around, the former St. Joseph's striker was hungry, well…for Hungary.

Mason added: “I’m buzzing  to make my debut. Obviously, it’s been a long time since I’ve been involved with the Under-21s. I was injured back in October which was unfortunate but I’m buzzing to have made my debut and scoring on my debut just tops it off.

“I won the penalty and I thought as I won it, I should take it and as strikers do, they take the penalties.  

“It was a good win and a good performance. We have to take on the confidence going forward now. We’re all looking forward to September and getting the campaign going but we want to win our friendlies and that’s what the gaffer (Jim Crawford) was saying. He wants to win, we want to win, so it was good to get that win over Hungary under our belt.”
 

Ireland Under-21s’ youngest goalscorers

1. Mason Melia v Hungary, 24.03.2025 | 17 years, 6 months and 2 days
2. Troy Parrott v Armenia, 6.03.2019 | 17 years, 7 months and 2 days
3. Evan Ferguson v Israel, 23.03.2022 | 17 years, 11 months and 4 days
4. Adam Idah v Luxembourg, 24.03.2019 | 18 years, 1 month and 13 days
5. Jack Grealish v Faroe Islands, 13.11.2013 | 18 years, 2 months and 5 days