National Team Friendly

National stadium
Spectators: 10301 (Terracing: 7726, Seating: 2369, VIP seats: 206) Balor McAaron made the kick off and thus started the match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Balor McAaron got free with Cleaven Trevisan in the 6th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Blanaid McBjarton showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alfred Xriha, who was totally free with the ball in the 7th minute. 7 minutes into the game, Alfred Xriha cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Blanaid McBjarton was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Joe Cioffi fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 10th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Blanaid McBjarton having to interfere. Cleaven Trevisan showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Barcvni Caffey, who was totally free with the ball in the 13th minute. Ephrem Gialanze sent away a hard shot on goal in the 14th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Balor McAaron received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 16th minute. Cleaven Trevisan tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 19 minutes into the match, Ireland's goal looked a bit too open when Ephrem Gialanze came free, but Blanaid McBjarton reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 20th minute of the match Malta got a corner. Ireland's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Joe Cioffi ran over to the corner to take the kick. A nice corner shot did that Joe Cioffi got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Blanaid McBjarton quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. 23 minutes into the game, Balor McAaron cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-1. Cleaven Trevisan was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. With his leg Cleaven Trevisan managed to avoid a goal in the 26thth minute, when Ireland's Balor McAaron fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. 28 minutes into the match, Malta's goalkeeper Cleaven Trevisan had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Derrick Mulvihill. Blanaid McBjarton stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Alfred Xriha's shot from short distance in the 29th minute. Cleaven Trevisan made a fantastic save in the 32nd minute, when Balor McAaron sent off a good shot on target. In the 32nd minute, Balor McAaron reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Cleaven Trevisan. The goal made the score 2-1. Balor McAaron received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Cleaven Trevisan came out and tried to block the shot, but Balor McAaron slotted it home off the left post making it 3-1 in the 41st minute. When Kelinu Fenech fell near the penalty area in the 45th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Malta's protests and gave Kelinu Fenech a yellow card for diving instead. Blanaid McBjarton showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alfred Xriha, who was totally free with the ball in the 47th minute. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 3-1 at half-time.

The Ireland fans' excitement grew in the 51st match minute when Ireland's Derrick Mulvihill looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 4-1 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. The supporters of Malta booed when Ireland was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 56 match minutes in a wonderful position. Torrey Grant didn't get a good kick on the ball. Ireland's Blanaid McBjarton proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 62nd minute of the match, managed to save Ireland from getting a goal against them. Gerard Christophoro could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 62nd minute of the match, but Blanaid McBjarton made a huge save. Ireland made a substitution. Fintan Gillmour replaced Derrick Mulvihill. 67 minutes into the match, Ireland's Balor McAaron sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Cleaven Trevisan narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Blanaid McBjarton didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Gerard Christophoro went, in the 69th minute, to the upper right corner, 5-2 was the resulting score. Ireland's Hewney Beckett was substituted for Torrey Grant. Blanaid McBjarton showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alfred Xriha, who was totally free with the ball in the 80th minute. Balor McAaron received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 88th minute. Cleaven Trevisan tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Blanaid McBjarton showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Joe Cioffi, who was totally free with the ball in the 93rd minute. Hewney Beckett hit a great freekick 94 minutes into the match. Ireland's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.