Arsenal youngster helps country top Euro u17 qualification group | OneFootball

Arsenal’s Ceadach O’Neill has helped the Northern Ireland u17s to top their European Championship qualification group despite a final-day defeat to Lithuania.

Ceadach O’Neill signing for Arsenal (Photo via O’Neill on Instagram)

Arsenal youth summer signing Ceadach O’Neill played for the Northern Ireland u17s in their final group game against Lithuania on Monday, knowing that their position as group winners was already secure.

Having beaten Scotland and the Republic of Ireland in their opening two games, Northern Ireland were three points clear at the top of the group.

But only Scotland were capable of catching their points total, and given the primary tiebreaker is head-to-head record, Northern Ireland would have finished first even if they lost and Scotland won.

BURTON UPON TRENT, ENGLAND: Ceadach O’Neill of Northern Ireland controls the ball during the Under-17 EURO Elite Round match between Hungary and Northern Ireland at St George’s Park on March 26, 2024. (Photo by Cameron Smith/Getty Images )

As it turned out, Scotland lost 3-0, meaning none of the other three teams were capable of matching Northern Ireland’s six-point total.

Perhaps with that fact in the back of their minds, up against a Lithuania team desperate for a win to help them to qualify, Northern Ireland slipped to a 3-1 defeat.

Lithuania would have joined Northern Ireland in progressing to the next stage of qualification with a 3-0 win, but a 90th-minute consolation penalty from Paul McGovern saw the Republic of Ireland sneaking into second due to their disciplinary record.

With the Republic of Ireland having drawn with Lithuania, their head-to-head record was equal, as was their goal difference and goals scored across all group games.

So it went down to disciplinary points, the eighth tiebreaker.

BURTON UPON TRENT, ENGLAND: Ceadach O’Neill of Northern Ireland looks on prior to the Under-17 EURO Elite Round match between Hungary and Northern Ireland at St George’s Park on March 26, 2024. (Photo by Cameron Smith/Getty Images )

Though he did play in the final-day 3-1 defeat, Arsenal youngster O’Neill will be pleased with his displays overall, having scored in the previous match against the Republic of Ireland.

As well as his goal, the 16-year-old provided an assist and forced an own goal in that 3-1 victory.

O’Neill also started and played 90 minutes in the 3-1 win over Scotland, so he had a heavy influence on his team’s eventual first-place finish.

Ceadach O’Neill celebrates a goal for the Northern Ireland u17s (Photo via NorthernIreland on Instagram)

Northern Ireland will now progress to the second round of qualifying for next summer’s tournament.

The team will be drawn into another group of four, with only the winners of each group progressing to the final event.

Qualifying Round 2 will be played in spring 2025, with the exact details unconfirmed at this stage.