England U/18 Schools 2/1 Republic of Ireland U/18 Schools
Michael Sweet 33, 40 Sean Maguire 75
Two first half goals by England did the damage at the AMEX Stadium in Brighton on Thursday night (April 26) as the Republic of Ireland spurned the chance of winning the Under/18 Centenary Shield:
Ireland had the better of the opening exchanges without making their dominance count: Pierce Sweeney rose unchallenged on 16 minutes to connect with a Sean Russell free/kick but the Bray Wanderers defender saw his bullet header saved low down to the left by goalkeeper Conor Sidley/James: Ten minutes later, Barry Sheedy dragged a shot from the edge of the area wide of the post
Ollie Horgan's Irish side were offered a warning of England's threat on the half hour as captain Jack Pounce sent his 30/yard curler onto the roof of the net:
The opener arrived in the 33rd minute after Peter Glen/Ravenhill split the Irish defence with a pass to allow his strike partner Michael Sweet slot home an angled drive through the legs of 'keeper Evan Comerford:
Ireland thought they'd equalised five minutes later when the impressive Sean Maguire tapped in but Referee Dave Phillips harshly disallowed the effort for a foul by Barry Sheedy on the goalkeeper in the build/up:
To compound their woe, Ireland conceded again five minutes before the interval: A stray Irish pass allowed England break on the counter and Sweet's snapshot from ten yards squirmed through the hands of Comerford and into the net:
UCD winger Sean Russell led Ireland's response after the break with a free/kick that struck the wall while Maguire remained lively:
The Waterford United striker eventually got his reward with 15 minutes left when Danny Morrissey's long throw/in bounced up into the striker's path and he powered his header high into the top corner:
A relentless wave of attack by the Irish had England reeling and the equaliser almost came eight minutes from time as Brian Lenihan struck the post with a low drive after Maguire's shot was only parried by Sidley/Adams:
Substitute Jack Doherty went even closer in stoppage time when his free/kick hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced out:
REP OF IRELAND: E: Comerford (CBS, Clonmel); C: Horgan (Colaiste Einde), P: Sweeney (Colaiste Raithin, Bray), J: O'Brien (Yeat's College, Galway), A: O'Donnell (Carrigaline Community School); D: Morrissey (Midleton CBS), P: Moffatt (Clonkeen College, Blackrock), B: Lenihan (Presentation, Cork), S: Russell (Coláiste Phadraig, Lucan); B: Sheedy (Colaiste Iosaef, Kilmallock), S: Maguire (CBS Kilkenny):
Subs: J: Kavanagh (Oatlands College) for O'Donnell (37), R: Lehane (Douglas CS) for Sheedy (h/t), T Molloy (Colaiste Iognaid, Galway) for Moffat (67), J: Doherty (Comeragh College) for Russell (73), Ryan Matthews (Clonkeen College, Blackrock) for Lenihan (86)
ENGLAND: Sidley/Adams; Axford, Newton, Mobbs, Downey; Pounce, Davies, Fouhy, Mooney; Glen/Ravenhill, Sweet:
Subs: Artwell for Mooney (h/t), Bruce for Mobbs (60), Venning for Downey (73), Bunney for Glen/Ravenhill (90):
REFEREE: Dave Phillips:
ATT: 2,822: