In a new departure for Irish underage football, the country has sent an u15 development squad to Derry to compete against top club sides in the Foyle Cup. Ireland's u15 youngsters are being pitted against u16 competition - and the hope is that what they lack in physical strentgh they will make up for with guile on the pitch.

They kicked off their campaign yesterday against a North East Counties selection and, while they were held to a 0-0 draw, it was only by sheer luck that their older opponents held out.

Manager Vinny Butler welcomes the chance to pit his youngsters against bigger and stronger players. He believes the competition will aid his job no end. He will know by the end of it who is going to make the grade and who is not.

Ireland could and should have beaten the North East Counties selection. They created a host of chances in the first half and even had a goal disallowed because of a disputable offside decision.

Butler said: "The competition allows us to use five substitutes in a game and we utilised this, but it unbalanced the team. We started very well and created lots of chances. We even had a goal disallowed for offside, which was harsh.

"I changed my four players in midfield in the second half and the game became scrappy but in the last five minutes we found our feet again and could have scored two or three goals."

Ireland play Oldham Athletic today in their second group game and finish off against the Derry & District League. Oldham beat Derry 2-1 yesterday so a win for the Irish today would put them in pole position.