FAI Schools team to be honoured at Serbia game

Centenary Shield Winners 2008

 

The FAI Schools International team captured the Centenary Shield this season with impressive victories over Wales, Northern Ireland, England and a draw with Scotland:

To mark this special event, the Schools team will be honoured at the Republic of Ireland v Serbia International on Saturday:

Please come early and show your appreciation for a great achievement in the lives of these young stars of the future: The Centenary Shield will be presented to the team when they walk on to the park at 7:30pm sharp

 

Snap shot of their season's campaign:::

 

Wales 1 – 2 Republic of Ireland

St: Helen’s Grounds, Swansea, 29 February 2008

 

Captain Robbie Creevy and defender Gary Murphy were missing for this clash against Wales in Swansea:

The match was played in windswept conditions in St: Helen’s Cricket and Football Grounds:

The team had a hard fought 2/1 victory over the Welsh outfit: Wales opened the scoring 9 minutes in with some slack defending from the Irish: John Mulroy equalised in the second half with all to play for: The lads grew in confidence and super sub Kevin Barry found the winner with ten minutes remaining to secure victory for the Irish:

 

Republic of Ireland 2 – 0 Northern Ireland

Milebush Park, Castlebar, 17 March 2008

 

A goal apiece from John Mulroy and Jake Kelly in the first half gave the Republic of Ireland victory over Northern Ireland 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:

 

Republic of Ireland 2 - 2 Scotland

Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore, 4 April 2008

 

The Republic of Ireland were without their influential Captain Robert Creevy (Salesian College, Celbridge and Shamrock Rovers) for their last home game in the competition: This did not deter the Irish from establishing a 2/0 interval lead: However, the home side lost their shape in the second half which brought Scotland right back into the game:

Slack defending by the home side contributed to Scotland’s opening goal in the 68th minute, which came courtesy of their Captain, Liam Corr: He was allowed all the time in the world to head past McGinley from close range:

Just when Ireland appeared to have secured victory over the Scots, the visitors struck a minute from time with a goal that was worthy of being a match/winner, Liam Corr splitting the home defence with a great pass to Kevin Ireland, who promptly buried in the corner of the net:

The draw leaves the Republic with a fighting chance to capture the Centenary Shield when they make the trip over to the Stadium of Light, Sunderland to face England in the finale of their campaign

 

England 0 - 1 Republic of Ireland

Stadium of Light, Sunderland, 18 April 2008

 

Sean Carr’s men got the victory the needed at the Stadium of Light on Friday night against a confident England side to capture the Centenary Shield:

The travelling Irish lapped up the electric atmosphere in the Stadium as they pressed forward at every opportunity:

England was eager to advance and had a number of missed opportunities in the opening minutes from Luke Cole and Tom Grice who squandered both opportunities in front of goal:

John Mulroy had a great shot saved by the in/form keeper Wannell on 32 minutes while Shane Clarke expertly played in Kevin Barry who just sent his effort wide of the left post on 37 minutes:

John Mulroy of Moyle Park College, Clondalkin scored the only goal of the contest with 39 minutes played when a penalty was awarded after he was fouled inside the box:

It was the fourth goal of the campaign for the stiker, as he scored in every one of Ireland’s games: Mulroy plays his club football for Bray Wanderers in the eircom League of Ireland Premier Division:

Captain Robert Creevy controlled the midfield with some splendid through balls into Clarke and Barry up front: However, Ireland was unable to capitalise on their lead:

England applied the pressure late on but the Irish defence were too strong for the rare English attack:

The Irish concluded the four game series undefeated on ten points after beating Wales, Northern Ireland and England as well as drawing with Scotland:

 

Republic of Ireland Panel:

1: Brian Collopy          CBS Sexton St: Limerick

2: Mark O’Reilly          Chanel College, Dublin

3: Sean Houston          St: Eunan’s College, Letterkenny

4: Philip Knight           Clonkeen College, Blackrock

5: David Webster        Templeogue College, Dublin

6: Declan Edwards      Blackrock College, Dublin

7: Oisin McMenamin   St: Eunan’s College, Letterkenny

8: Robbie Creevy         Salesian College, Celbridge

9: Shane Clarke           CBS Sexton St: Limerick

10: John Mulroy           Moyle Park College, Clondalkin

11: Jason Hughes         CBS Sexton St: Limerick

12: Jack Flynn             Belvedere College, Dublin

13: Gary Murphy         Oatlands College, Stillorgan

14: Jake Kelly              St: Laurance College, Loughlinston

15: Gerard Cheevers    St: Mary’s College, Galway

16: Mark McGinley     PCC Falcarragh, Letterkenny

17: Kevin Barry           CBS Sexton St: Limerick

18: Peter Acheson       Rockwell College, Cashel

19: Philip Hand           Chanel College, Dublin

20: Paddy Madden       Chanel College, Dublin

 

Management:

Manager: Sean Carr, St: Eunan’s College, Letterkenny

Assistant Manager: Dave Archbold, Palmerstown College

Coach: Hugh Colhoun, St: Laurance College, Loughlinstown

Goalkeeping Coach: Ian Carry, FAI

Physio: Micky McGlynn

Doctor: Dr: Aidan Colman