Ireland Under-21s ended their March international window on a high after overcoming Hungary 3-1 on a night Mason Melia set a new Under-21s record.

The St. Patrick’s Athletic’s forward became the youngest player to score at that age grade for Ireland when he converted a 16^th minute spotkick on what was his Under-21s debut.

At 17 years, 6 months and 2 days old, Melia beat the record set by Troy Parrott (17 years, 7 months and 2 days) in 2019.

It was also a celebratory night for Brentford’s Conor McManus who netted two second-half goals in his first appearance in an Ireland shirt.

Jim Crawford’s team were looking to bounce back from a 2-0 defeat they suffered to Scotland on Friday evening. He made eight changes to the starting line-up with Walsall’s David Okagbue captaining the side and Gabriel Otegbayo making his Under-21 debut alongside Melia and McManus.

It would be in the 16^th minute of the game the contest would spark into action. Harry Vaughan played a ball inside to Melia who managed to pinch it ahead of Balasz Tóth in the Hungary goal and in doing so he brought down the Irish striker with the referee pointing to the spot. Melia grabbed the ball and fired past Tóth to set a new record.

Hungary weren’t to be perturbed and grew into the game. Noah Jauny produced a superb save to deny Dominik Csoka who was able to drift in the box and fire off an effort that was tipped around the post.

Just after the half-hour mark Hungary got their equaliser Gabor Jurek ran onto a cut back to fire in a strike that went in off the cross bar.

Three minutes into the second half Zalán Vanscsa forced another superb save from Jauny who dived to his top left to deny the goal-bound flicked header.

Substitute Mark O’Mahony had a glorious chance to restore Ireland’s lead. McManus did well to win the ball on the half-way line and he drove at goal, crossing for O’Mahony who couldn’t quite steer his volley on target.

Ireland’s efforts were rewarded in the 79^th minute. Jamie Mullins’ whipped free-kick was headed home by McManus to make it a goal-scoring debut for the Brentford man. Then four minutes later the night would get even better for the former Bray Wanderers defender who nodded in a Vaughan cross for his second goal of the evening to seal the win.

Speaking after the game Head Coach Jim Crawford said: “Hungary were very good. We watched them against Iceland and they were just ok, but they made some changes and they were very good.

“It was a tough first half, it was a baptism of fire for the group because of the physical nature of Hungary. It became a point in the game we just had to ride the storm and get the lads in at half-time. To win 3-1 was a real reflection of our second half performance because first half we were just ok.

“It was a great test for the players and where we need to get to if we’re going to gain points when we get to the qualifying campaign in September. For me it shows a real togetherness of the group and an adaptability.

“The attacking set plays were excellent and for Conor McManus to score two goals was fantastic, he had a fantastic game. I thought young Mason [Melia] was outstanding for us. I was delighted with him and his overall game was excellent. It was a pleasing result.”
 

Ireland: Jauny, O’Brien (Barratt, 88’), Okagbue (C), Otegbayo (Alex Murphy, 68’), McManus, Lipsiuc, Mullins (Adam Murphy, 88’), Maher (O’Mahony, 46’), Vaughan (Gardner, 88’), Hakiki (Umeh, 68’), Melia

Hungary: B Tóth (Dala, 46’), Yaakobishvili, Markgraf, Vingler (Rab, 76’), Okeke, Jurek (Vilmos Denes, 76’), Banati (Bakti, 68’), Csoka (Kajan, 68’), Denes, R. Tóth (Babos, 46’), Petó (Vancsa, 46’)

International Friendly Results

Friday, March 21 | Ireland 0-2 Scotland,
Monday, March 24 | Hungary 1-3 Ireland