Colhoun takes lots of positives from drawn game against New Zealand
The Republic of Ireland Under-18 Schools’ team’s absorbing 2-2 draw against New Zealand gave manager Hugh Colhoun plenty to ponder over as he goes into the Christmas break.
This friendly was the first game of the season and is a pre-cursor to the annual Centenary Shield campaign which begins in February.
Ahead of those four matches against Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England, the Irish have more friendly matches in Jersey. Ireland will face Guernsey, Jersey and Northern Ireland from February 2-4 in St. Helier.
“It was good to get the first game of the season out of the way,” said Colhoun. “We had played a couple of local friendly matches but the game against New Zealand was a good setting for the players to show what they’re capable of.
“We needed to look at players in action against a good standard of opposition and I think what we saw of them adds to the store of knowledge. There’s enough there to be able to build on for the matches early in the new year.
“To concede a late equaliser in injury-time was a disappointment because we needed to defend set-pieces better.
“I really thought we had done enough to win the game. We were the better side in the first half but poor finishing let us down. Then, they went ahead in the second half but we scored twice in the late stages to lead going into injury time.”
Ireland will start the defence of their Centenary Shield on February 26 when Wales come to Ferrycarrig Park in Wexford. Trips to Scotland and Northern Ireland follow in mid-March before the final game of the series takes place in Buckley Park, Kilkenny when England visit.
Fixture List:
Friendly Tournament, Jersey
February 2 - Guernsey v Republic of Ireland (Springfield, St. Helier)
February 3 - Jersey v Republic of Ireland (Springfield, St. Helier)
February 4 - Northern Ireland v Republic of Ireland (Springfield, St. Helier)
Centenary Shield
February 26 - Republic of Ireland v Wales (Wexford Youths FC), 7pm
March 13 - Scotland v Republic of Ireland (Tynecastle FC), 7pm
March 20 - Northern Ireland v Republic of Ireland (Ballymoney), 7pm
April 24 - Republic of Ireland v England (Buckley Park, Kilkenny), 7pm.
Report courtesy of John Fallon
Images - Sportsfile
http://www.sportsfile.com/search/Soccer/new-zealand/