Republic of Ireland 1/2 Northern Ireland
Ryan Manning (39), Curtis Dempster (50), Kris Lowe (90+1)
THE Republic of Ireland Schools international side were unfortunate to suffer an injury/time defeat to holders Northern Ireland in a Centenary Shield clash at Sligo's Showgrounds today (March 17)
Northern Ireland's Kris Lowe snatched the winner in injury time after finding the net after a penetrating run through the heart of the home defence:
The Republic of Ireland started well and were unfortunate not to open the scoring in the third minute when a Ryan Manning dead ball effort rattled a Northern Ireland upright:
Northern Ireland thought they had broken the deadlock through Corey McMullan on 13 minutes but the finish was ruled offside:
Manning duly found the net for the home side in the 39th minute when he finished off a set/piece taken by Cian Kavanagh with an impressive header:
Manning hit the post once more in the 44th minute with another free/kick from the edge of the box:
The final chance of the half fell to St: Eunan’s starlet Chris Flanagan as his efforts to double the Republic of Ireland’s tally was just inches off the target:
The visitors started the second half impressively and Ciaran Harkin was unfortunate to shoot just over with an impressive strike three minutes after the restart:
Lowe tested Republic keeper Jack Brady in the 50th minute and although Brady made a decent save the ball rebounded to Curtis Dempster to equalise from six yards out:
Northern Ireland keeper Kealan Mulcahy was forced into a decent save to deny Jamie McGrath after a dangerous run down left flank in the 56th minute:
Buncrana’s George Kelly was unlucky not to head home a match winner on 70 minutes as his diving header just didn’t connect properly at the far post after good work from Feeney
Maxime Kouogum (Coláiste Chairain, Leixlip) was solid in defence for Horgan’s side as the Northern Ireland onslaught was on/going
Mulcahy then produced a strong of impressive saves in the dying minutes to keep Northern Ireland in the hunt and it paid off as Lowe grabbed the dramatic late winner:
The Republic of Ireland will have to dust themselves down following the heartbreaking defeat to neighbours Northern Ireland: The boys in green will travel to Bristol to take on the English in 11 days time:
England are riding high at the moment following an impressive win away to Wales on Friday evening: This will stand them in good stead heading into their first home fixture of their campaign:
The penultimate tie will be crucial to Horgan as he wants to keep his title ambitions alive before the final game of the series on April 24 as Tallaght plays host to Scotland:
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS: Jack BRADY (St: Anne’s Community College, Killaloe), Aidan McCAULEY (Moville Community College), Dylan KAVANAGH (Salesian College, Celbridge),Maxime KOUOGUM (Coláiste Chairain, Leixlip), Christopher FLANAGAN (St: Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), Val FEENEY (Colaiste Phobáil, Ros Cré), Craig DONNELLAN (Coláiste Chríost Rí, Cork), Cian KAVANAGH (Patrician College, Finglas), Jamie McGRATH (Athboy Community School),Jack BAYLY (Salesian College, Celbridge), Ryan MANNING CAPTAIN (Yeats College, Galway)
SUBS USED: George KELLY (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana) for McGrath 60 mins; Darragh BLACK (Loreto Community School, Milford) for Bayly 66; Michael BROWN (Maynooth Post Primary School)for C Kavanagh 81:
SUBS NOT USED: Patrick DUNICAN (Killina Presentation Secondary School, Tullamore), Antaine Ó LAOÍ (Coláiste Cholmcille, Galway) Darragh GANNON (Lucan Community College) Aaron ROBINSON (Tallaght Community School)
NORTHERN IRELAND: Kealan MULCAHY (North West Regional College), Lyndon KANE (North Coast Integrated College), Daniel WILSON (La Salle Belfast), Kris LOWE (South West Regional College), Corey McMILLEN (Coleraine Academical Institution), Ciaron HARKIN (NW Regional College), Gavin WHYTE (Belfast Metropolitan College), Curtis DEMPSTER (Glengormley High School), Caolan FLANAGAN (St: Paul’s High, Bessbrook), Ben DOHERTY (St Columb’s College, Derry), Ross LAVERY (St: Patrick’s Academy),
SUBS USED: Adam SALLEY (Newry Technical College)for Flanagan 23 mins; Andrew HOEY (Southern Regional College) for Whyte on 29 min; Jamie McINTYRE (North West Regional College) for McMillen 62 mins; Mark SYKES (St: Mary’s CBGS, Belfast) for Hoey 77 mins; Cameron STEWART (Campbell College, Belfast) for Wilson 82 mins
SUBS NOT USED: Jack MILLIGAN (Portora Royal School), Patrick MOLLOY (St: Patrick’s Academy)
REFEREE: Shane O’Brien (Roscommon)
CENTENARY SHIELD RESULTS
Wales Schools 0/3 Republic of Ireland Schools
Thursday, March 6, 2014
The Rock Cefn Druids (7:00pm)
Republic of Ireland Schools 1/2 Northern Ireland Schools
Monday, March 17, 2014
The Showgrounds, Sligo Rovers FC (3:00pm)
CENTENARY SHIELD FIXTURES
England Schools v Republic of Ireland Schools
Friday, March 28, 2014
Ashton Gate, Bristol City FC (7:00pm)
Republic of Ireland Schools v Scotland Schools
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Tallaght Stadium, Dublin (7:00pm)