Lawrie Sanchez's side suffered an early blow in Bridgetown when Wimbledon defender Mark Williams was shown a straight red card by referee Neil Brizanin after a scuffle with Barbados striker Kenroy Skinner with only half-an-hour played. Barbados: Chase, Braithwaite, Parris, James, Randy Burrowes, Kent Hall, Forde, Lovell, Grosvenor, Skinner (Riley, 65), Lucas. Subs Not Used: Howell, Boyce, Burgess, Hawkesworth, Goodridge, Neblett. Northern Ireland: Taylor, Baird (Jones, 67), Williams, Craigan, Capaldi (Elliott, 67), Gillespie (Smith, 46), Johnson, Sonner (McVeigh, 67), Mulryne (Murdoch, 46), Quinn, Healy (Hamilton, 80). Subs Not Used: Ingham, Whitley, Doherty.
Ten minutes later the home side took the lead when Skinner latched on to a long throw to fire past Taylor from close range.
Ireland came out all guns blazing in the second half and had a great chance to equalise on 66 minutes when defender Dwight James was penalised for handling in the box. Preston striker David Healy could only watch in disbelief however, as his spot kick came back off the post.
Five minutes later the Irish got their rewards when Healy made ammends for his penalty miss to prod home from close range after a cross from the right caused panic in the Barbados defence.
Both Blues players completed the full ninety minutes in the baking conditions at The Kensington Oval.
The Northern Ireland teams second game of the tour is against St.Kitts/Nevis at The Warner Park Stadium, Basseterre on Wednesday, June 2nd.