An equaliser three minutes into injury time from substitute Philip Millar deprived Brian Kerr's home-based under-18s a victory they deserved at the Newry Showgrounds. Millar struck three minutes into time added on when he turned well to drill the ball home from 10 yards after a cross from John Paul Gallagher wasn't cleared.

The Republic were much the better side, both technically and tactically, and the only surprise at the break was that they had taken 33 minutes to score their goal.

The impressive Alan Murphy had given the Republic the lead when he alertly punished a blunder by Northern Ireland goalkeeper Jonathan Gilbert.

Having fallen behind, the North almost equalised four minutes later when a Sammy Haughey shot came back off the crossbar. Northern Ireland finished strongly and David Nesbitt had shot against the bar just minutes before they levelled.

NORTHERN IRELAND: Gilbert (Glenavon); Fleming (Limavady United), Boylan (Glenavon), Kane (Newry Town), Donaghy (Crusaders); Gray (Coleraine), McDonald (Coleraine), Lynch (Coleraine), Gallagher (Dungannon Swifts); Maguire (Newry Town), Haughey (Glenavon). Subs: Adair (Ards) for Fleming (55 mins); Nesbitt (Loughgall) and O'Hara (Portadown) for Maguire and Haughey (both 56 mins); Dickson (Glentoran) for McDonald (70 mins); Millar (Crusaders) for Gray (81 mins).

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: O'Hara (Belvedere); Shelly (Shamrock Rovers), Byrne (St Patrick's Athletic), Quinn (Dundalk), B Kelly (Belvedere); Malee (Galway United), Gamble (Cork City), McGuinness (St Patrick's Athletic), Murphy (Galway United); Fitzpatrick (UCD), Smyth (Monaghan United). Subs: Farrelly (Belvedere) for Smyth (half-time); O'Rourke (Cork City) and Sweeney (Cobh Ramblers) for Quinn and Murphy (both 65 mins); Fyffe (Limerick FC) and Delaney (Cork City) for O'Hara and McGuinness (both 72 mins); Kelly (Bohemians) and Doyle (Shelbourne) for Fitzpatrick and Shelly (both 81 mins.).

Referee: D Malcolm (Bangor).