Fleetwood pair Barry Baggley and Dylan Boyle add Northern Ireland Under-21 caps in Lithuania
There was disappointment for Fleetwood Town midfielders Barry Baggley and Dylan Boyle as Northern Ireland Under-21s ended their Euro 2023 qualification campaign with a frustrating 1-1 draw away to Lithuania.
Any hopes of John Schofield’s side progressing from Group C had long gone but Dale Taylor’s sweet first-half strike looked to have ensured they finished the campaign with a win until Artemijus Tutyskinas struck deep into stoppage-time for the hosts.
Baggley started the game and was replaced by his Fleetwood teammate on 81 minutes.
Both had come off the bench in Friday’s 6-0 home defeat by Spain, in which 20-year-old Boyle made his first appearance for the U21s in a competitive game.
Northern Ireland quickly set about trying to end on a positive result and broke the deadlock after 17 minutes.
Nottingham Forest youth player Taylor drilled home from 18 yards but Lithuania pushed for an equaliser after the break.
Northern Ireland came close to a second and John McGovern’s effort was saved in stoppage-time. This proved crucial as the hosts fashioned a final opening and it was all Tutyskinas needed.