John Morling’s Republic of Ireland under-16 A and B sides played a double-header against Belgium last night, with the A side suffering a heavy defeat, and the B side winning 3-1.

In the A game, Belgium scored three times in the opening quarter of an hour to leave the Irish youngsters deflated, while a hat-trick from Corbally United’s Joel Coustrain gave the Ireland B side a deserved win. Rematches of the ties will take place at the Mijnstadion Stadionlaan on Thursday.

Morling is using the four games as a chance to assess his youngsters before the Euro 2013 Under-17 Championship qualifying campaign starts in September. Ireland will play Sweden, Romania and mini-group hosts Macedonia between the 29th of September and the 4th of October, with a warm-up friendly likely in August.

“As end-of-season friendlies go, Belgium are the perfect opposition to be facing for our lads,” says Morling. “They are technically strong. Both our A and B teams will get two good games each.”

Aston Villa midfielder Daniel Crowley returns to the Ireland fold after playing with the England under-16s against Northern Ireland in a friendly last October, and then again at the Montaigu Tournament in France in April. Manchester United-target Noe Baba is also included, as is Spain-based striker James Lindsay Escofet, who plays at the AE Josep Maria Gene academy near Barcelona.

A Squad:
Peter Burke – Moville Celtic, Harry Doherty – Cockhill Innisowen, Noe Baba – Castlebar Celtic, Jack Byrne – Manchester City, Daniel Cleary – Liverpool, Daniel Crowley – Aston Villa, Robin Dempsey – St. Joseph’s Boys, Stephen Confey – St. Kevin’s Boys, Craig Donnellan – Corinthians, Christopher Flanagan – Glencar, Corey Galvin – Ipswich town, Bobby Moseley – Birmingham City, Jake Mulraney – Nottingham Forest, Dean O’Halloran – Southend, Alex O’Hanlon – Liverpool FC, Ryan Rainey – Bonagee Utd, Eoghan Stokes – St. Kevin’s Boys, Liam Traynor – St. Joseph’s Boys.

B Squad:
Sean Burke – St. Joseph’s Boys, Harry Charlsley – Everton FC, Joel Coustrain – Corbally United, Fiachra Kelleher – Avondale, Regan Donelon – Shelbourne, Val Feeney – Athlone Town FC, Evan Galvin – Corinthians, Alan Kehoe – St. Joseph’s Boys, James Lindsay Escofet – AE Joseph Maria Gene, Gareth McCaffrey – Stella Maris, Cody Mulhall – Stella Maris, Aaron Myles – St Kevins Boys, Cathal O’Hanlon Springfield Rmblrs, Jordan O’Reilly – St. Kevin’s Boys, Conor Shaughnessy – Mervue United, Evan Shine – St Kevins Boys, Jordan Toland – Swilly Rvs, Kevin Toner – Home Farm.

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2. Match Report: Aspire Academy 3-3 Republic of Ireland U15
3. Irish and Italian teams named for Belgium friendly
4. Match Report: Ireland u16 1-2 Denmark u16
5. John Morling names Ireland U17 squad to face Serbia