PREVIEW | Ireland vs Wales

SAFIB Centenary Shield | Under 18 Boys’ International

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Wales entertain Ireland in conclusion of Shield

THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS will play the final fixture of this year’s SAFIB Centenary Shield series when they travel to Briton Ferry to take on Wales this Thursday, April 18 (KO 7pm).

Northern Ireland have already captured the Shield for this season with four wins from four, the most recent victory was last Thursday when they defeated Wales 2-1 in Belfast to clinch the silverware. Marc Williams’ Welsh side were hopefully of a late surge in the competition having won two on the bounce, but Simon Nicks’ squad just did enough on the night to win out. 

Despite last week’s result, the Welsh side are playing some great football having grinded out some excellent results. They defeated Scotland 2-4 away from home. William’s side continued their rich vein of form to beat rivals England 3-1, but their winning streak ended in Belfast with that narrow loss. 

It’s been a disappointing campaign for the Republic of Ireland with a hard fought one all draw against Scotland in the opening night. The Republic of Ireland unluckily went down 1-2 to Northern Ireland the following week. The concession of goals from set pieces was their Achilles’ heel in both outings in Athlone.  And a further defeat at the hands of England a fortnight ago (4-0) left the squad deflated. O’Brien will be looking to end the campaign on a positive note with a victory against the 2023 Joint Champions.

There are some notable changes to the squad during the series and the English clash will be no different.  Debutant Mark ISONG (Belvedere College) has been called into the squad. His school were defeated last week in the Dr. Tony O’Neill Senior National Cup Final, but Isong featured heavily for the Dublin outfit excelling in their Cup campaign. Another new face will be Conor CANNON (Rice College, Westport) who joins school mate Conor REYNOLDS into the fold. Reynolds made his debut a fortnight ago and will be hoping for more game time against Wales.  Malahide’s Tom McLOUGHLIN also holds his spot having featured last time out alongside Ardscoil na Mara student Jack AHERN. Hugh PARKER (Temple Carrig School, Greystones) has recovered from an injury sustained in the English game as he has impressed in all the Shield fixtures thus far.

Last season the Irish were defeated 2-3 by a 90^th minute Welsh winner in Ferrycarrig Park, Wexford. Wales went on to share the Shield trophy with England last season as they were level on points. The Irish will be hoping to upset the odds this Thursday when they face off against each other.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS | Edvinas JAKAS (Lucan Community College),  Óisín COONEY (Carndonagh Community School), Kyle McDONAGH (St. Attracta’s Community School, Tubbercurry), James McATEER (Loreto Community School, Milford),  Daire PATTON (Summerhill College, Sligo), Conor CANNON (Rice College, Westport), Conor REYNOLDS (Rice College, Westport), Aidan RUSSELL VARGAS (Lusk Community College), Kyle DONOGHUE (Kildare Town Community School), Callum HONOHAN © (Edmund Rice College, Carrigaline), Rhys KELLY NOONAN (Coláiste Mhuire, Crosshaven), Calum COSTELLO (Comeragh College, Carrick on Suir), Evan LYNCH (Christian Brothers College, Cork), Jack AHERN (Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore), Mark ISONG (Belvedere College), Tom McLOUGHLIN (Malahide Community School), Adam O’HALLORAN (Clarin College, Athenry), Hugh PARKER (Temple Carrig School, Greystones)

MANAGEMENT | Derek O’BRIEN, Head Coach (Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore), Alan MURPHY, Coach (St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway) Ollie HORGAN, Coach (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), John POWER, GK Coach, Kevin HABERLIN, Equipment Manager, Michael McGLYNN (Physio), Dr. Aidan O’COLMAIN (Team Doctor)

2024 SAFIB Centenary Shield

RESULTS

Friday, February 23           Northern Ireland 3-0 England                      (Blanchflower Park, Welders FC)

Thursday, February 29    Republic of Ireland1-1 Scotland                   (Athlone Town AFC)

Thursday, March 7            Republic of Ireland1-2 Northern Ireland  (Athlone Town AFC)

Thursday, March 14          Scotland 2-4 Wales                                          (Greenock Morton) 

Thursday, March 21          Scotland 0-2 Northern Ireland                      (Stenhousemuir FC)

Thursday, March 28         Wales 3-1 England                                             (Llandarcy Academy of Sport)

Friday, April 5                     England 4-0Republic of Ireland                 (Walsall FC)

Thursday, April 11              Northern Ireland 2-1 Wales                           (Blanchflower Park, Welders FC)

Friday, April 12                   England 4-2 Scotland                                      (Chesterfield FC)

Fixtures

Thursday, April 18             Wales vs Republic of Ireland                       (Briton Ferry FC)

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Ireland vs Scotland                        Hugh PARKER (Temple Carrig School, Greystones)

Rep of Ireland vs N Ireland         Evan LYNCH (Christian Brothers College, Cork)

England vs Ireland                         Daire PATTON (Summerhill College, Sligo)

Centenary Shield Roll of Honour