Republic of Ireland Under/18 Schools 2 -2 Wales Under/18 Schools
Garbhan Coughlan 24, 30 Daniel Gibbon 2, Gethin Maxwell 49):
Garbhan Coughlan scored a brace as the Republic of Ireland opened their Centenary Shield defence with a draw against Wales in Killarney on Friday night:
Ireland fell behind early on but turned the game around to lead at the break: However, a gritty Welsh side claimed a deserved point by equalising in the second half:
A flurry of chances to win it were produced by either side in the closing stages but the point gives both reason to be optimistic about their title prospects on a night when Northern Ireland defeated England 2/0 in the other match played in the series:
Dave Archold's Ireland side barely had time to settle when they found themselves behind just past the minute mark:
Kristian Jenkins's long throw in from the left tormented the Irish defence and the loose ball was pounced upon by centre back Daniel Gibbon who was given time to loop his header over Ireland goalkeeper Greg Murray from ten yards:
The ball was in the Irish net once more on 22 minutes following Jonathan Dunn's header but the offside flag was raised when the striker nodded past Murray:
That incident would prove pivotal as Ireland levelled within a minute: Coughlan received pass from Stephen Chambers 25 yards out, sidestepped his marker and rifled a shot in off the crossbar:
The debutant gave the big turnout in Killarney more reason to be cheerful by pushing the Irish ahead seven minutes later, latching onto a Stephen Chambers pass before finishing low from an acute angle:
Wales looked for a response after the break and took just four minutes to get level: Ireland only half/cleared a corner to the edge of the area Gethin Maxwell took full advantage by drilling a first/time shot into the corner:
Both sides had their chances to win it in the latter stages, with Paul Mannion coming close to grabbing Ireland's winner on the hour only to miscue his side wide with the goal at his mercy:
Chambers saw his close/range shot deflected up onto the crossbar while set/piece specialist Gethin Maxwell also rattled the bar at the other end with a free/kick:
Northern Ireland's victory over England places more importance on Ireland's next match in the series which is against their cross/border rivals in Belfast on St: Patrick's Day:
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Murray (Phobailscoil Iosolde); Barker (Fingal CC), Cooney (Templeogue CC), R: McLaughlin (Carndonagh), C: McLoughlin (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana); Horgan (Colaiste Einde, Galway), Chambers (St: Fintan's), Kavanagh (Oatlands College), Mannion (St: Benildus College); Coughlan (Crescent College), Lyons (Presentation, Bray):
Subs: Douglas (St: Brendan's College, Bray) for Horgan, Matthews (Clonkeen College, Blackrock) for C: McLoughlin (both h/t), Merritt (Loreto Community School, Milford) for Lyons (60 mins), Lane (Presentation College, Athenry) for Kavanagh (77 mins):
WALES: Martin, Biddiscombe, Parry, Jenkins, Rodon, Gibbon, McDaid, Dunn, Jones, Newman, Maxwell:
REFEREE: Seamus O'Mahoney (Kerry):