Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Irish Schools welcome Australia
UNDER 18 BOYS’ INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY
The Republic of Ireland Schools select face a stern test against the Australian Schools select at Home Farm FC, Whitehall on Saturday, January 19 for an International Friendly scheduled to kick off at 1pm.
This will be the eighth occasion these two teams have met in the last 19 years. The visitors have enjoyed the upper hand in proceedings thus far with an impressive record. Ireland have only won once, drew twice and lost four times in their previous outings against the southern hemisphere side.
This will be an excellent challenge for the Head Coach William O’Connor (Balbriggan Community College) as he and his staff make their final preparations ahead of their Centenary Shield campaign.
CENTENARY SHIELD
The Republic of Ireland’s title defence will commence on March 28 as the team travel to Somerset Park, home of Ayr United FC in their opening game of the SAFIB Centenary Shield series against the tartan army. The Republic of Ireland will then enjoy three games on the bounce during the Easter Break as they line out against England on April 12 in Dublin. O’Connor’s crew will then make the short journey to Belfast to take on neighbours Northern Ireland on April 18 in their penultimate clash of the season. The scholars will be hoping that they’re still on a solid footing for their final showing which will see them entertain Wales on April 25 in Dublin.
The Republic of Ireland only joined the competition back in 2003 and tasted success immediately with an outstanding three in a row in the Shield (2003, 2004, 2005) but they had to wait until 2008 to recapture the silverware as England reigned supreme. The Republic of Ireland won again in 2010 and 2015. Their latest victory came twelve months ago when they defeated Scotland 3-1 in Home Farm FC to lift the prestigious trophy.
AUSSIE TOUR
The visitors will play a total of ten games in their two week tour of the UK & Ireland with the Republic of Ireland stop their fifth competitive encounter in this hectic schedule.
The Australian lads kicked off their trip against England Independent Schools last Sunday and went down 3-2 to their hosts in a highly entertaining clash. The squad are also scheduled to play Bristol College, Welsh Colleges, Welsh Schools, Northern Ireland Schools, Scotland Schools, Fleetwood Town, England Schools and their tour will conclude against the English Colleges set up.
HISTORY
The forthcoming fixture is a regular battle which always produces some excellent physical encounters. The last time the two sides met in January 2017, it was half-time substitute Hassan JALLOH (Arthur Phillip HS)who converted twice to ensure a 2-0 win.
In 2015, they shared the spoils with a 1-1 draw. Ireland took the lead courtesy of Georgie Poynton (Coláiste na hInse, Bettystown), as he ran onto an excellent through ball from Conor Ellis (Colaiste Pobail, Bheanntrai) and raced through to slot the ball past the advancing keeper Sam Brown.
Australia equalised on the hour mark. Matthew Millar got behind the home defence and as he shot, he was challenged by Dan Tobin (Oatlands College). The referee awarded a penalty for the challenge and Millar stepped up to stroke home from the penalty spot past the diving Corey Chambers (Gorey CS).
The Irish side lost 2-3 to the visitors back in 2012 but enjoyed their only win to the Australian’s in 2010 when the Republic recorded a 3-1 victory. Again in 2008, it ended 1-1. The Australian students have the bragging rights as they won narrowly in 2006 with a solitary goal and again in 2000 when they came out the other side of a seven goal thriller, earning themselves a 3-4 victory.
PROVISIONAL SQUAD
William O’Connor has selected 18 players to face their Australian counterparts following an exhaustive trialing process since the Interprovincial tournament back in November.
Carndonagh CS pupil Lee McLaughlin will miss out due to injury but he will be hoping that he recovers in time for some action in the series later this year.
O’Connor will keep a watchful eye on the students as he attempts to finalise his squad for the season ahead. No doubt the players will relish the opportunity to represent their School and Country against a much fancied opposition.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND PROVISIONAL SQUAD | Niall O’KEEFFE (De La Salle College, Waterford), Matthew O’REILLY (Midleton CBS, Cork), Josh HONOHAN (St. Francis College, Rochestown), Corey McBRIDE, Jack DOHERTY (both Carndonagh Community School), Daragh ELLISON (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), Seán McEVOY (Virginia College, Cavan), Colin KELLY (St. Joseph’s College, Galway), Adam LYNCH, Gearoid MULLIGAN (both Summerhill College, Sligo), Dónal HIGGINS (Yeats College, Galway), James CLARKE (Boyne Community School, Trim), Keith CARTER (Coláiste Choilm, Swords), Jamie CLEARY (Drimnagh Castle CBS, Walkinstown), Jake ELLIS (Oatlands College, Mount Merrion), David ODUMISU (O’Fiaich College, Dundalk), Ross TIERNEY (St. Aidan’s CBS, Whitehall), Brandon BERMINGHAM (St. Mary’s Diocesan School, Drogheda)
MANAGEMENT | William O’CONNOR, Head Coach (Balbriggan Community College), John McSHANE, Assistant Coach (Dublin Oak Academy, Bray), Ollie HORGAN, Performance Analyst (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), Conor FOLEY, GK Coach (Athlone Community College), Michael McGLYNN (Physio), Dr. Aidan O’COLMAIN (Team Doctor), Derek O’BRIEN, Equipment Manager (Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore)
AUSTRALIA | Levi KAYE, Maximillien BALARD, Calem NIEWENHOF, Harry McCARTHY (all NBSC Freshwater Campus), Lachlan SCGEFFERS (Forest High), Blake RICHARDS (Bossley Park HS), Sam WEBB (Gosford HS), Richard STEWART (Blaxland HS), Jarrod CARLUCCIO (Cecil Hills HS), Rory JORDAN, Dean PELEKANDOS (all The Hills Sports HS), Pratik NAPIT (North Sydney Boys HS), Anthony SPARACINO (St. Edward’s College), Michael HARTH (Chancellor State College), Jake HOLLMAN (St. Augustine’s College), Louis ZABALA, Mathew NIKOLOVSKI (Westfield’s Sports HS), Bailey RULE (SEDA College)
MANAGEMENT | Pat MARANDO, Coach (Liverpool Boys HS), Chris MINOL, Assistant Coach (Wyndham College) Ashley MATHIESON, Manager (NBSC Freshwater Campus), Jamil QUTAMI, Physio
ROLL OF HONOUR
2017 Republic of Ireland 0-2 Australia (L)
2015 Republic of Ireland 1-1 Australia (D)
2012 Republic of Ireland 2-3 Australia (L)
2010 Republic of Ireland 3-1 Australia (W)
2008 Republic of Ireland 1-1 Australia (D)
2006 Republic of Ireland 0-1 Australia (L)
2000 Republic of Ireland 3-4 Australia (L)
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