Jay Magee came to the rescue of Northern Ireland at Shamrock Park last night as the young talent of the Carling Premiership also showed that they have character too.

Trailing 2-0 to a strong Wales outfit, the Irish League youngsters — managed by Ronnie McFall — fought back and could have got their International Challenge Trophy campaign off to a winning start — with Linfield’s Michael Carvill missing a penalty before Magee’s last gasp leveller.

Any suggestions that the game was little more than a glorified friendly were wiped out too, with Wales finishing the game with just nine men, while Northern Ireland had Robert Garrett dismissed nine minutes from time.

The Welsh got off to a dream start when they opened the scoring just three minutes into the contest. Scott Barrow whipped in the corner and Jack Christopher climbed highest to head powerfully past Crusaders goalkeeper Chris Keenan.

Carvill had a chance to level matters, but was denied by Stephen Cann.

Craig Moses had come off the bench for Wales with just 15 minutes gone and he was to make a quick impact on the game.

Nine minutes after his introduction Moses got onto the end of a great cross from his captain Craig Jones to score with ease.

The Northern Ireland boys were sparked into action by that second goal and won a free-kick just three minutes later. Glentoran’s Daryl Fordyce stepped up and stroked his effort into the top corner.

As if that hadn’t rocked the Welsh enough, they were hit with a red card three minutes after the goal, when Sean Cronin was dismissed for his part in an off-the-ball incident.

Moses and Curtis McDonald both had chances to stretch the Wales lead, but wasted their opportunities.

Ryan Edwards was then shown the second red card of the night 20 minutes from the end when he used his hand to deny Northern Ireland an equaliser — with referee Stephen Weatherall also pointing to the penalty spot.

Carvill stepped up and saw Cann make a fine save from his shot.

Garrett had already been booked when he was shown a second yellow card on 81 minutes for a foul on Craig Jones.

Northern Ireland poured men forward, as they still held a one-man advantage and when substitute Liam Boyce saw his header from a corner pushed away, Magee reacted quickest to force the ball over the line to claim a draw.

NORTHERN IRELAND: Keenan, Smith, Harkin, Magee, McVey, Garrett, Carvill, Mulgrew (c), Fordyce, Boyce, Alan Teggart. Subs: O'Neill, Boyce, Stewart, Taylor, Allen, Catney, Redman.

WALES: Cann, R Edwards, Bevan, Cronin, McDonald, Jones, A Edwards, Williams, Barrow, Sherbon, Christopher. Subs: Idzi, Batley, S Edwards, Fahiya, Moses, Reed, Follows.

Referee: Stephen Weatherall.