Republic of Ireland 1/2 New Zealand
Hugh Douglas (65) Tane Gent (33)
Ryan Cain (38)
TWO New Zealand goals in the space of five first/half minutes on Monday at Ballyoulster FC consigned the Republic of Ireland Schools team to defeat in their last warm/up match before the Centenary Shield decider against England on April 30:
Ireland boss Dave Archbold used this friendly to afford some vital game/time to squad players and newcomers ahead of the English encounter at Burton Albion on Friday fortnight:
And though the new/look Irish started brightly, they came unstuck against a powerful touring side who grabbed the initiative with a brace of goals just past the half hour mark:
To their credit, a second half comeback yielded a goal from substitute Hugh Douglas and they almost nicked a draw only for a few late chances to go astray:
Billy Lane was a livewire on the right flank for Ireland in the first half and forced a good stop from Kiwis' goalkeeper Alex Carr on five minutes following a good lay/off by Adam Hanlon:
Lane was again involved seven minutes later by cutting on from the wing and drilling a low delivery across the six/yard box: Sean Brosnan, Ireland's match/winner against Wales last month, attempted an audacious back/heel but Carr didn't blink and averted the danger:
Ryan Cain nodded over the visitors' first real chance of note on 16 minutes but they surged ahead in the 33rd minute when Tane Gent was given the space to break from midfield and tuck a low shot across Josh Byrne and into the far left corner:
New Zealand extended their lead five minutes later: Tim Pilkington launched a long free/kick from just inside the Ireland half into the box which Byrne failed to collect and Ryan Cain capitalised to tap home from close range:
Lane was near to halving the arrears with a header as half/time loomed yet Carr produced another assured save:
The Ireland manager made five changes at the break and one of those substitutes, Douglas, augmented the Irish attack with his industrious runs from midfield:
His goal/bound header was on the hour was deflected wide but three minutes later, he arrived on cue to nod Marwin Azimi's corner into the net:
The Boys in Green continued to look dangerous and Captain Tomas Boyle should have at least worked the goalkeeper with a free header that he angled over:
Azimi had the ball in the net with 20 minutes remaining but his celebrations were premature as he was adjudged to have been in an offside position:
Pilkington could have settled it for the visitors seven minutes from time when he broke through but Hanlon got back to snuff out the chance:
And Ireland might have snared a draw two minutes later as Brosnan's header diverted a shot from Chris MacBride onto the crossbar:
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Josh Byrne - De La Salle College, Waterford (Marty McGinty - Deele College 75); Robbie Gaul - Colaiste Choilm, Swords (Brian Nolan - St Paul's CC 46), Tomas Boyle - Salesian College, Niall Cooney - Templeogue College (Marwin Azimi – Pobalscoil Rosmini 60), Jake Carroll - Confey CC, Leixlip (Jason Dwane - St: Peter's College 46); Billy Lane - Presentation College, Athenry (Hugh Douglas - St: Brendan's College 46), Barry O'Mahony - Summerhill College, Sligo (Chris MacBride - St Columbas College, Stranorlar 46), Jack/Tim Murphy - St: Peter's, Wexford (Shane McInerney - Athlone CC 80); Gary Shaw - Patrician SS (Darragh Walshe - St: Kieran's, Carlow 46), Sean Brosnan - St: Patrick's SS, Castleisland):
NEW ZEALAND: Alex Carr, Tom Bigg, Tane Gent (Matthew Gibbons, 47), Matt Shaw, Daniel Minshell, Tim Pilkington, James Lawson (Cameron Lidstore, 88), Thomas Doyle, Ryan Cain, Josh Morrison (Capt), Ashton Pett:
Subs: Jack Cotter, Dominic McGarr, James Rowtledge, Alex Ridsdale, Luis Gleves, Jordan Shaw, Adam Wallis
REFEREE: Darren Carey: