Ireland Men’s Under-16s came from a goal down to beat Czechia 2-1 in the Aegean Cup in Türkiye today.

An own goal and a Michael Noonan penalty completed the second-half turn around after Dominic Zajac gave the Czech the lead five minutes into the second half.

Ireland were heading into the game looking to bounceback from their opening day defeat to Türkiye and Head Coach Paul Osam made seven changes to the starting line-up. Among the new starters was Treaty United’s Charlie Campbell who made his first international start.

Like their first game against Türkiye, the game was a slow burner and it took until the 30th minute for Ireland to penetrate the Czechia defence.

Jaden Umeh, who notched an assist against Türkiye, managed to work well down the left and fired a cross in that was just claimed by Adam Paar with Cillian Tollett ready to pounce.

Umeh was involved minutes later when he was weaved his way through the Czechia backline only to be brought down on the edge of the area. From the resulting free-kick Billy O’Neill couldn’t quite hit the target as his effort went just over the bar.

At half-time Osam rang the changes introducing Muhammad Oladiti, Finn Sherlock and Grady McDonnell into the action.

However, five minutes into the second period the Czechs were ahead. Ireland failed to clear their lines from a corner and Dominic Zajac's half volley found the back of the net.

This sparked Ireland into life, Umeh and O’Neill tested Paar as they began to build up pressure. On the hour mark that pressure paid off when a Finn Sherlock corner found its way into the back of the net via a Czech defender.

Eight minutes later the turnaround was complete. Umeh was brought down inside the penalty area and Michael Noonan, introduced to the game minutes earlier, converted the spot kick for his ninth international goal of the season.

Late on Ireland had Ali Topcu to thank as he pulled off a fine save when Czechia were put through one-on-one. It would prove a match-winning save as Ireland held on to win and go into Friday's game against Greece on a high.

Ireland: Topcu, Canny (Oladiti, 46), McGrath, Steward (C) (McDonagh, 60), Hayes (McDonagh, 83), McMahon Brown, Ogbonna (McDonnell, 46), Campbell (Martos, 60), Umeh, O’Neill (Noonan, 60), Tollett (Sherlock, 46),

Czechia: Paar, Skubala, Hruska, Zajac, Ferlay, Pech, Tupec, Tusek, Sochurek, Novak (C), Kodera. Substitutes: Franc, Bartosic, Kovar, Syrovatka, Potmesil, Vanek, Kriklava, Riedl, Capka, Palascak

International Friendly Fixtures (all kick-off times are Irish Standard Time)
Monday, January 22 | Türkiye 3-1 Ireland
Wednesday, January 24 | Ireland 2-1 Czechia
Friday, January 26 | Ireland v Greece, Izmir, Türkiye, KO 10am