Despite Northern Ireland's 2-0 defeat against Poland in their opening Nations League match of 2025, manager Tanya Oxtoby found a silver lining in the debut of teenage striker Kascie Weir. In Gdansk, Weir, aged 18, came off the bench with 16 minutes remaining, marking her first appearance on the international stage.

A Promising Debut

Oxtoby praised Weir's performance, emphasizing the opportunity for young players to step up. "I just said 'go and enjoy it'. You don't get that moment very often, or you only get it once, so she's earned it," Oxtoby remarked. "She's gone on to the pitch, managed to break the ice, and got a feel for playing alongside some of her idols."

The manager highlighted the significance of Weir's debut as a testament to the pathway being created for young talent within the squad. "I'm really pleased for her, and it shows the pathway and what we're trying to do here in terms of bringing players through," she added.

Match Recap

Northern Ireland's struggle began early as they conceded two goals in the first half, courtesy of Ewelina Kamczyk and Adriana Achcinska. Despite the setback, the team showed resilience in the second half, displaying better possession and control, which Oxtoby saw as a positive moving forward.

Looking Ahead

Oxtoby is optimistic about the team's next Nations League match against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday. She emphasized the importance of the entire squad's contribution, looking forward to playing in front of their home fans. "We speak all the time that it's about the entire squad, and you saw that again. It's really important from our point of view, and it was a much better second half from us," she concluded.

Northern Ireland, led by captain Rebecca McKenna in her 50th appearance, continues to build a strong foundation for future success, with young players like Weir leading the charge.