Scotland Schools 0/2 Republic of Ireland Schools
Scotland came to Fraserburgh eager to record their first victory of this season’s Centenary Shield campaign against an Irish side smarting from defeat in Derry to their near neighbours:
Fraserburgh’s Bellslea Park was the setting for last night’s clash (March 27), and the playing surface proved to be in excellent condition despite the recent inclement weather over the British Isles:
The Republic of Ireland kicked off shooting down the pronounced slope, and were on the attack immediately with a break down the right: The diminutive Sean Hurley saw his shot on the run saved by the re/instated Chris Truesdale in the Scotland goal:
This lively Irish start was re/enforced only a minute later with the opening goal: Again Hurley was involved: feeding Sean Coyne on the right hand side: His looping cross come shot was tipped onto the crossbar by Truesdale, and Jack Doherty was first to react, knocking over the line from around 2 yards:
Scotland were obviously rattled by this set/back and Chris O’Neil attempted to impose some aggression upon proceedings: Referee Matt Northcroft cautioned the Scotland midfielder for a bone/shaking challenge on Fearghal McMahon:
There then followed a much better spell of Scottish possession, with the home side keeping the ball well in spite of fierce Irish harrying: This play resulted in Scotland’s first opportunity on the six minute mark: Declan McDaid crossed from a free/kick and Scott McKenna nodded down to Gavin Thomson who saw his initial effort saved by Conor O’Malley in the Republic goal: McKenna retrieved possession and crossed from the right, but the ball evaded all of the blue shirts in the penalty area:
Robbie Wotherspoon kept play alive, only to be felled by Gavin Boyne’s challenge: Boyne was the second name in referee Northcroft’s book after only six minutes:
Play then started to settle into a typical, competitive Scotland vs Republic of Ireland Centenary Shield encounter: Scotland enjoyed the better of the possession in the next ten minutes or so, but had few chances to show for their endeavours:
Indeed the next opportunity fell to the visitors on the quarter hour mark: A long throw in from Alex Byrne on the left was flicked goal/wards by Doherty: Truesdale had to look alert to tip onto the crossbar and over: After 28 minutes the other goalie had to look sharp: O’Malley raced from his goal to save at Callum Crane’s feet after an excellent pass from Thomson: The far/side linesman would have halted the Scotsman’s progress anyway – Crane was marginally offside when his strike/partner’s pass was delivered:
A minute later Thomson was the beneficiary of fine service, from the unlikely source of the gloves of Chris Truesdale: The keeper’s long throw allowed the forward to race clear, and only a fine interception by Alan Browne prevented him levelling the score:
The forward pairing of Thomson and Crane were troubling the Irish backline: This was demonstrated on three occasions in the last five minutes of the half: Firstly Crane cut in from the right and his low shot was saved by O’Malley in the Irish goal: Next the pair linked up, and only an excellent tackle by Patrick Fitzgerald prevented Thomson shooting: Finally, Thomson was able to shoot, but O’Malley was the equal of his acrobatic effort following a run and cross by Lee Davison:
So, after a largely even first half: SCOTLAND 0, REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 1:
Scotland would have hoped to profit from shooting down the slope in the second half of the match:
The second 45 minutes began brightly as Hamilton, Thomson and Davison combined down the right: Davison attempted to burst into the penalty area, but his progress was thwarted by O’Malley, who flopped onto the ball: After 52 minutes a Wotherspoon free/kick caused panic in the Irish area, before being belted clear by Boyne:
However, three minutes later things would all change for the Scots, as they suffered the second wonder strike from a player from the Emerald Isle this term: This time it was the Republic of Ireland’s turn to benefit: There appeared no danger when Fearghal McMahon picked up the ball on the right hand side of the area as he faced away from goal: He swivelled and rifled an unstoppable shot in to the roof of the net to give the away side a two goal lead:
The Irish nearly added to their advantage in 63 minutes: A long throw from Coyne was flicked on by Hurley to Cashin who failed to do so by firing over: The same player came close three minutes later as he fired towards goal from 25 yards: Only a wonderful diving stop by Truesdale held the score at 2 0:
A minute later the busy Thomson delivered an excellent cross which was scrambled clear by Browne: Thomson was again involved with 17 minutes to go, Browne having to resort to foul play to halt his progress on the edge of the area: He took the resultant free/kick himself, but fired over the bar:
Scotland’s keeper Truesdale had to again show his talent with a quarter of an hour to go: He leapt acrobatically to his right to push clear another pile/driver from Cashin:
The visitors were well on top now, and could have scored a minute later from the resultant corner: Hurley, Val Fenney and Kevin O’Connor had successive efforts blocked by Hamilton, McKenna and Close respectively: The ball eventually fell to Sean Coyne, but he blasted over:
A final flurry came from Scotland with six minutes to play: McKenna’s long ball found the willing Thomson in the area: The forward was driven wide, but played in a tempting cross which was well smothered by O’Malley:
FULL TIME: SCOTLAND 0, REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 2:
SCOTLAND: Truesdale; Hamilton, (Hendrie, 76 min:) Wotherspoon, McKenna, Close (c); Barclay, Davison, O’Neil,McDaid(McDonald, 59 min:); Thomson, Crane (Brown, 71 min:) Subs not used: Petrie, Dunn (gk), Fullerton:
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: O’Malley, Cantwell, Coyne, Byrne, Fitzgerald, Browne, Boyne, O’Connor, Cashin, Barry, Doherty, McMahon, Rocks, Hurley, Dykes, Patton, Goonery, Feeney: