Youth to the fore as new NI cap reveals delight for JD Academy graduate who also makes senior international debut
After earning the first senior cap of his international career, Kieran Morrison highlighted his pride in fellow teenager Ceadach O'Neill reaching the same milestone across Northern Ireland’s win over Guinea.
Liverpool ace Morrison started the contest against Guinea in Spain, whilst Arsenal's O'Neill was utilised from the bench in the second half as Tom Atcheson’s goal proved to be the difference.
Morrison was previously named in Michael O'Neill's squad for the March international window, with this month's action seeing O'Neill and fellow striker Braiden Graham involved for the first time.
O’Neill has been in fine form for Arsenal’s under-age squads this term and was named on the bench for two FA Cup ties by Mikel Arteta.
Whilst acknowledging his own satisfaction about making his Northern Ireland debut, Morrison was also quick to congratulate O’Neill for making his bow.
He told BBC Sport NI following the game played in the La Linea sunshine: "Me and Ceadach are close. I was mocking him on his number (O'Neill wore number 13), it's a goalkeeper's number.
"But I was proud of him to make his debut. He deserves it...it was a really proud moment for him and his family."
Graham’s international debut might come on Monday night as Northern Ireland face the mighty France in Lille.
Everton man Graham was on the same JD Academy residential as 18-year-old O’Neill and he spoke about the importance about that on his career to date.
"Me and Ceadach started there when we were 14 and those two years are so crucial for your development,” he told Northern Ireland’s social media platforms. "Being there and away from home helps you to migrate into knowing what it's going to be like when you move away.
"The Academy has developed us into the people and the players we are now, so it's been huge in our development.”
Speaking prior to this month’s friendlies, O’Neill hailed the benefits of the JD Academy in terms of bringing players through to the senior set-up.
He said: “What we're seeing from our academy is that we have a number of players now that are already senior international players that have come through that pathway.”