Wales 0/3 Republic of Ireland
Craig Donnellan (6), Jamie McGrath (57), Ryan Manning (89)
THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS select picked up a valuable three points away to Wales last night (March 6) following a wonderful display from Ollie Horgan’s men in The Rock, Cefn Druids FC:
Yeats College star Ryan Manning captained the side in the opening game of the Centenary Shield which also saw Scotland host Northern Ireland:
The skipper topped his whirlwind experience with a goal in the dying minutes of the game to claim the Republic of Ireland’s hat/trick
The win will set Horgan in good stead as they play host to Northern Ireland in 10 days time
Our Northern counterparts were seconds away from securing a win only for the tartan army to equalise in the 90th minute: So it will be all to play for as they travel to Sligo Rovers FC for the second outing of the Shield campaign:
The visitors got the perfect start to proceedings when Cork’s Craig Donnellan scored after six minutes: Their lead was doubled just before the hour mark as Athboy student Jamie McGrath converted:
The Irish were a little under strength for this encounter which saw the late withdrawal of two key players namely Val Feeney (Coláiste Phobal, Roscrea) and Seán Heaney (Ard Scoil Rís, Griffith Avenue): The duo cited club commitments for their absence but full credit to the squad who managed a marvellous victory against a well organised Welsh outfit
Horgan will take nothing for granted as he sets his sights on the game in Sligo, “Northern Ireland are a very talented side: We will need to keep our composure to secure a win at home: Northern Ireland won last season by a solidarity goal, we just couldn’t convert our chances in front of goal: The lads will be boosted by the win tonight and hopefully we can build on this momentum”
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Patrick DUNICAN (Killina Presentation School), Christopher FLANAGAN (St: Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), Dylan KAVANAGH (Salesian College, Celbridge), Maxime LOUOGUM (Coláiste Chairain, Leixlip), Craig DONNELLAN (Coláiste Chríost Rí), Cian KAVANAGH (Patrician College, Finglas), Jamie McGRATH (Athboy Community School), Jack BAYLY (Salesian College, Celbridge), Michael BROWNE (Maynooth Post Primary School), Aidan McCAULEY (Moville Community College), Ryan MANNING CAPTAIN (Yeat’s College, Galway)
SUBS USED: Darragh BLACK (Loreto Community School, Milford) FOR M BROWNE, Antaine Ó LAOÍ (Coláiste Cholmcille, Galway) FOR J BAYLY, George KELLY (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana) FOR C KAVANAGH
SUBS NOT USED: Jack BRADY (St: Anne’s Community College, Killaloe), Darragh GANNON (Lucan Community School) Aaron ROBINSON (Tallaght Community School), Daryl POWER (St: Peter’s College, Wexford)
CENTENARY SHIELD FIXTURES
Republic of Ireland Schools v Northern Ireland Schools
Monday, March 17, 2014
The Showgrounds, Sligo Rovers FC (3:00pm)
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)