Town midfielder Josh Carson won his second full cap as Northern Ireland lost their final Carling Nations Cup match 2-0 to Wales in Dublin this evening. Aaron Ramsey and Robert Earnshaw netted a goal in each half for the dominant Welsh.
The game, which was more like a friendly given that it was watched by around 2,000 people in the 51,700-seater Aviva Stadium, was Northern Ireland’s third defeat in the competition and sees them finish bottom of the Carling Nations Cup table.
Carson played the full 90 minutes and like the rest of his team found it hard to impose himself on the game. Former Blues defender Gareth McAuley again skippered Northern Ireland, while ex-Blues keeper Lewis Price came on as a sub for Wales.
The 17-year-old is in international action again next week with Northern Ireland’s U21s in the Faroe Islands.
Northern Ireland: Jonathan Tuffey (Alan Blayney 75), Craig Cathcart (Stuart Dallas 63), Colin Coates, Lee Hodson, Gareth McAuley, Josh Carson, John Gorman, Robert Garrett (Carl Winchester 76), Oliver Norwood, Niall McGinn (Jordan Owens 80), Warren Feeney (Liam Boyce 73).
Wales: Wayne Hennessey (Lewis Price 75), Danny Collins, Neil Taylor, Chris Gunter (Adam Matthews 73), Daniel Gabbidon, David Cotterill, Aaron Ramsey (Andy Dorman 90), David Vaughan, Jack Collison (Owain Tudur-Jones 62), Steve Morison (Sam Vokes 80), Craig Bellamy (Robert Earnshaw 62).