Preview | Ireland vs Wales

SAFIB Centenary Shield | Under 18 Boys’ International

Saturday, March 15, 2025

Ireland host Wales in their series opener

THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS will kick start their 2025 SAFIB Centenary Shield campaign when they take on Wales on Thursday, March 20 in Graun Park, Tramore AFC (1.0).

The 18-man panel will make the short trip to Waterford next week without the services of influential scholar Fionn McNAMARA (St. Patrick’s College) who has been ruled out due to an ankle injury.  The Cavan man will be a big loss as he produced a solid performance in the Ireland jersey when they sealed a 3-1 victory over Australia in January. A second half brace from Summerhill College star Callum LYNCH and a rocket from Merlin College student Jack SWEENEY ensured a positive result after their first competitive fixture of the season.  Another notable performance came from the skipper that afternoon Alain KIZENGA (St. Mac Dara’s Community College, Templeogue) who was nominated as Australia’s POTM.

Head Coach Derek O’BRIEN (Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore) will be looking to capitalise on the form shown in that bruising encounter when they meet the force of the Welsh dragons. 

O’Brien’s counterpart Marc Lloyd Williams has enjoyed huge success in recent years, and he will be confident of getting a result away from home.   2022 marked an incredible milestone for Williams’ side when they captured the elusive Shield title following a 41-year absence. They followed this up with another historic campaign that saw them share the title with England in 2023.

Williams will have Rocco Dyer, Abel Mwenera, and Captain Ricky Owen all available for selection again this season.

The Irish extracted a little revenge when the sides last met with a 0-3 victory to the visitors in Briton Ferry FC last April. An Mwenera OG early on was followed up by Summerhill College grad Daire Patton to make it 0-2 ten minutes before the interval. Templecarrig talisman Hugh Parker extended the lead to three, ten minutes into the restart for a commanding win to end their season on a positive note. 

The Republic of Ireland last won the Shield in 2018 so O’Brien would love to capture a title before he departs the International scene following seven years of invaluable service.

Following the Welsh fixture, the Ireland team will face off against Scotland in Shenhousemuir a week later, Thursday, March 27 (1.0) while their penultimate outing will see them feature against holders Northern Ireland in Blanchflower Stadium, Belfast on April 11 (7.0). The Republic of Ireland will conclude the series at home to England on Thursday, April 24 (7.0) when Athlone Town AFC plays host.

2025 SAFIB Centenary Shield Recap

Following the opening three games of the ten-match series, Scotland are in poll position in this season’s SAFIB Centenary Shield league table with four points out of possible 6 generated. 

Scotland made a blistering start to proceedings with an emphatic 6-2 demolition of England in the opening game on February 28.  Cameron Keay bagged four with further goals from Jack Allan and Torran Lambie. While George Lycett and Liam Higgins were on the scoresheet for England.

The Tartan army couldn’t’ replicate such form in their second outing against Wales as they played out a one all draw yesterday afternoon (March 14). Niall Graham cancelling out Osian Morris eleventh minute goal, so they had to settle for a point apiece.

Further disappointment for England as they suffered a second defeat on the bounce when they hosted holders Northern Ireland last night (March 14).  A first half brace from Sam McClintock (one from the spot ) and an Oisin Murray penalty save at the other end ensured Northern Ireland all three points on offer.

It makes for interesting billing on Thursday evening as three teams will have played half their matches in the competition.   No doubt the Welsh will be looking to reset and come out of Tramore with a win to keep their aspirations of a third title in four years. Or can Ireland create a solid framework to claim back the Shield that has eluded them for seven years?

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS SELECT | Kyle GABBIDON (Coola Post Primary School, Sligo), Sam NEVILLE, Ethan CHEESE (both Patrician Secondary School, Newbridge), Aaron CASS (Abbey Community College, Ferrybank), Alain KIZENGA (St. Mac Dara’s Community College, Templeogue), James MORAHAN, MacDaragh SCANLON, Billy REGAN, Jacob CARROLL (all St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway), Luke DOOLAN (St. Brendan’s College, Killarney), Jack SWEENEY (Merlin College, Galway), Adam NOLAN (Maynooth Community College), Rhys KNIGHT (Clonkeen College, Blackrock), Callum LYNCH (Summerhill College, Sligo), Matt JONES (St. Flannan’s College, Ennis), Oisín KELLY (Ballyhaunis Community School), Daniel CUNNINGHAM (Coláiste na Carraige, Carrick, Donegal), Adam BRENNAN (Hartstown Community School)

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, Martin CAVANAGH, Equipment Manager (Carndonagh Community School), Michael McGLYNN (Physio), Dr. Aidan O’COLMAIN (Team Doctor)

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, Martin CAVANAGH Equipment Manager (Carndonagh Community School), Michael McGLYNN (Physio), Dr. Aidan O’COLMAIN (Team Doctor)

WALES | Rhys Williams, Conor Partridge, Dylan Packer, Rocco Dyer, Abel Mwenera, Morgan Davies, Osian Morris, Ricky Owen, Adam Cartwright, Jaden Tang, Harvey Chapman, Nathaniel Osbourne,  Jack Florence, Jack Jones, Shivo Hinds, Gwydion Dafis, Tarran Hollinshead, Alfie Davis  

MANAGEMENT STAFF | Head Coach Marc Lloyd Williams, Assistant Manager Richard South, Physio Andrew Thomas, Equipment Manager Roger Skryme

2025 SAFIB Centenary Shield

RESULTS

February 28        Scotland 6-2 England Greenock Morton (1.0)

March 14              Wales 1-1 Scotland, Airbus FC (1.0)

March 14              England 0-2 Northern Ireland, Truro (7.3)

FIXTURES

March 20             Republic of Ireland vs Wales, Graun Park, Tramore (1.0)

March 27             Scotland vs Republic of Ireland, Stenhousemuir (1.0)

April 4                  Northern Ireland vs Scotland, Blanchflower Stadium (7.0)

April 11                  England vs Wales, Macclesfield (7.0)

April 11                  Northern Ireland vs Republic of Ireland, Blanchflower Stadium (7.0)

April 24                Republic of Ireland vs England, Athlone Town AFC (7.0)

April 24                Wales vs Northern Ireland, Briton Ferry FC (7.0)

Centenary Shield Roll of Honour