Republic of Ireland celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Style
Republic of Ireland 2 – 0 Northern Ireland
Mulroy 31mins, Kelly 44mins
A goal apiece from John Mulroy and Jake Kelly in the first half gave the Republic of Ireland Under-18 Schools team victory over Northern Ireland at Milebush Park in Castlebar on St, Patrick’s Day.
It was the second win on the bounce for the Irish in their Centenary Shield campaign.
Ireland did all the early pressing and seized the initiative just past the half hour mark when Moyle Park College striker John Mulroy struck the opener by latching onto a cross from captain Robbie Creevy and firing home.
Another well-worked move led to the second goal, scored a minute before half-time. Shane Clarke, one of four players in the Irish line-up representing the Limerick CBS Sexton Street school, found Jake Kelly with a through ball and he controlled the pass before tucking the shot beyond the goalkeeper.
Ireland withstood a spell of pressure from Northern Ireland early in the second half and held on to clinch victory.
Sean Carr’s Irish side showed their resilience during the first match of the campaign by coming from behind to record a 2-1 victory away to Wales last month.
Their next game is against Scotland on April 4 in Lissywollen Stadium in Athlone before they travel to Sunderland’s Stadium of Light on April 18 to face England.
Republic of Ireland: Brian Collopy (CBS Sexton St. Limerick), Peter Acheson (Rockwell Cashel), Sean Houston (St. Eunan’s, Letterkenny), Gary Murphy (Oatlands Stillorgan), Philip Knight (Clonkeen College, Blackrock), David Webster (Templeogue College, Dublin), Oisin McMenamin (St. Eunan’s, Letterkenny), Robbie Creevy (Salesian College), Jake Kelly (St. Laurance’s Loughlinstown), Shane Clarke (CBS Sexton St. Limerick), John Mulroy (Moyle Park College)
Subs: Jason Hughes (CBS Sexton St. Limerick) for Webster (68 mins), Kevin Barry (CBS Sexton St. Limerick) for Clarke (80 mins) and Gerard Cheevers (St. Mary’s Galway) for John Mulroy (90 mins).
Northern Ireland: Niall Murphy, Thomas Burke, Ross Redman, Martin Hamilton, Seamus Sharley, Gary Thompson, Andrew Hall, Samuel Stewart, David McDaid, Adam McKinney, Colum Curtis.
Subs: Donnelly for Hamilton (65mins)
Referee: Damien McGrath