Republic of Ireland U18 Schools 0-1 Northern Ireland U18 Schools
Scott McCullough 14
Northern Ireland took the points in a close Centenary Shield tie against the Republic of Ireland Under-18 Schools side on St. Patrick's Day at Leah Victoria Park in Tullamore.
The game was Ireland's first of the campaign while their cross-border counterparts had lost to England and drawn against Scotland in their first two matches of the series.
Dave Archbold's Ireland team warmed up for their campaign with a victory over Australia in January but they were left reeling by the concession of an early strike against the North.
Full-back Scott McCullough grabbed the vital goal on 14 minutes, embarking on a run out of defence which ended with a superb low drive from 25 yards that rifled across goalkeeper Marty McGinty and into the bottom corner.
Ireland created enough chances to salvage at least a draw but will now look to win in Wales next Thursday to get their title ambitions back on track.
They were close to levelling just a minute after falling behind when Darragh Walshe volleyed a shot wide and captain Tomas Boyle was unlucky to see his header cleared off the line as the break approached.
Two Irish substitutions were made at the interval, with Gary Shaw and Nathan Murphy coming into the fray for the second 45 minutes.
Shaw, in particular, brought a greater threat to the attack and the home side began to find the openings.
Tom O'Halloran evaded his marker two minutes after the restart to create space but could only drag his angled shot wide while Boyle glanced his header over the bar a on 55 minutes.
Winger Daryl Horgan cut inside on 64 minutes and missed the target by inches with a curler but Northern Ireland should have extended their advantage two minutes later when a close-range header by Michael Smith rebounded off the crossbar.
Ireland squandered their nearest opportunity of claiming a draw three minutes from the end when Robbie Benson broke through on the left side of the box but smashed his shot high and wide with the goal at his mercy.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Marty McGinty (Deele College); Brian Nolan (St Paul's CC), Jason Dwane (St. Peter's College), Tomas Boyle (Salesian College), Jake Carroll (Confey CC, Leixlip); Daryl Horgan (St. Enda's College, Galway), Sean Skelly (St. Joseph's Fairview), Hugh Douglas (St. Brendan's College), Tom O'Halloran (Athlone CC); Robbie Benson (Marist College), Daragh Walshe (St. Kieran's College),
Substitutions: Nathan Murphy (Colaiste Ris) for Carroll, Gary Shaw (Patrician SS) for Walshe (both 46 mins), Marwan Azimi (Pobalscoil Rosmini) for O'Halloran (60 mins), Stephen Chambers (St. Fintan's) for Douglas (68 mins)
NORTHERN IRELAND: Jack Duffin (St. Malachy's); Scott McCullough (SRC, Armagh), Andy Devlin (NW Regional), Josh Robinson (Ashfield), Eamon Hughes (Corpus Christi); Ryan Burns (Corpus Christi), Thomas McBride (NW Regional), Darren Coyle (St. Joseph's, Derry), Michael Smith (NW Regional); Shane Jennings (Cross & Passion), Robbie Hume (NW Regional).
Substitution: Matthew Harkin for Hume (84 mins)
REFEREE: Conor Fitzgerald.