Three run

Three Cliftonville players were on their travels with Northern Ireland’s underage international sides over the past week-and-a-half.

Orleigha McGuinness and Tara Reilly were part of the Women’s Under-19 squad that faced France, Italy and Hungary in European Championship qualifiers, while Keevan Hawthorne helped the Men’s Under-17 side pocket four points from their own mini-tournament in northern Italy.

Staged in southern France, Group A1 of the Women’s Under-19s saw Gail Redmond’s side defeated by the hosts and Italians before securing a draw with Hungary at Stade Jean Verbeke, where McGuinness (pictured) started all three games, while Reds team-mate Reilly emerged from the bench in last Saturday’s encounter with Italy.

The Men’s Under-17 side, meanwhile, tackled Italy, Greece and San Marino as they targeted a place in the Elite Round of European Championship qualifying.

An unused substitute in Northern Ireland’s 2-0 defeat to the Greeks, Hawthorne started last Saturday’s goalless draw with Italy and was introduced from the bench in Tuesday’s 4-0 victory over San Marino.