Pike Rovers FC will play host to the Republic of Ireland Schools' team as they take on their counterparts Northern Ireland in the opening game of their Centenary Shield campaign on Friday, March 16, 2012 (KO 3pm)
This will be the first competitive fixture in the competition for Manager, Ollie Horgan (St: Eunan’s College, Letterkenny): He will be hoping that home advantage will give the boys the edge they need to overcome a strong Northern Ireland selection: Rob Ramsey’s men were joint holders of the Shield along with Scotland following a successful campaign last season:
This will be Ramsey’s second game of their current campaign having suffered a 4/0 defeat away to Scotland in the opening game of the year: The team will obviously be looking to improve their performance this time around:
Horgan’s outfit have suffered defeat to the Northerners twice in the last three years having drawn 2/2 away to their border rivals three year’s previously: The Letterkenny teacher will be well aware of their history as he goes in search of his first win in four years:
The Republic of Ireland has a strong experienced outfit selected to represent the country with nine players all capped previously at underage level: These include Eoin Hyland (Oatlands College), Brian Lenihan (PBC, Cork), Daniel Morrissey (Midelton CBS), Rob Lehane (Douglas CS), Fearghal McMahon (St: Macartan’s College, Monaghan) and Joe O’Brien (Yeat’s College, Galway):
Ireland are further boosted by the return of three key players from last season, these include Ryan Matthews (Clonkeen College), Paul Whyte (Castleisland CC) and Colm Horgan (Colaiste Einde, Galway)
The Schools’ team completed their preparations for the Centenary Shield campaign with a competitive friendly against Salthill Devon U19’s last week: The match was played in Drom with the Schools outfit springing a 4/1 victory for Horgan’s side: The Republic also played a competitive friendly against the Australian Schools at the end of January: The Irish lost 2/3 following a 2/1 lead at half time: The experimental side had plenty to gain from the game and led to a number of positional changes to the squad:
The Donegal native was happy with the team dynamic and the matches provided a good stepping stone in which to select a strong panel for this season:
“The purpose of the games was to see all the players in action and each of the 20 got a decent run out”, he said:
Evan Comerford (CBS High School, Clonmel) and Paul Whyte (Castleisland Community College) will fight it out for the number one jersey on Friday next:
Bray student Pierce Sweeney will be a welcome addition to the team alongside Anthony O’Donnell (Carrigaline Community School), Sean Maguire (CBS Kilkenny), Barry Sheedy (Colaiste Iosaef, Kilmallock), Daniel Morrissey (Midleton CBS), Rob Lehane (Douglas Community School), Paul Moffat (Clonkeen College) and Fearghal McMahon (St: Macartan’s College) who all bring a wealth of footballing experience to the team:
Comeragh College pupil Jack Doherty will be looking to make the cut for the starting eleven having impressed at the Interprovincial tournament last October: Likewise Eoin Hyland (Oatland College) was instrumental in the Leinster squad’s successes at the same competition:
Galwegian’s Timmy Molloy (Colaiste Iognaid) and Joe O’Brien (Yeat’s College) will follow in the footsteps of Colaiste Einde student Colm Horgan in gaining Schools International status this season:
Scotland and Wales currently share poll position on the leader’s board following their Centenary Shield showdowns in the opening games: The Welsh had an impressive 1/0 win at home to England ten days previously and this will no doubt increase the confidence in the Welsh camp ahead of our crunch clash against the Scots on Thursday next, March 15: Scotland provided a master class performance against the North resulting in a comprehensive 4/0 win at home and this will spur them on to retain the title:
The Irish squad last captured the Centenary Shield during the 2009/10 season under the stewardship of Palmerstown Community School teacher Dave Archbold:
Horgan’s aim will be to continue winning ways this year with a win on home soil to our cross border counterparts on Friday next ahead of the St: Patrick’s Day celebrations: The game should prove decisive in both the teams title ambitions this season:
Tickets for the game cost €5 for adults and €2 for students, and are available from Michael Molyneaux (Limerick CBS) on 086/2460/496
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND PANEL: Evan COMERFORD (CBS High School, Clonmel), Eoin HYLAND (Oatland s College, Mount Merrion), Anthony O’DONNELL (Carrigaline Community School), Pierce SWEENEY (Colaiste Raithin, Bray), Ryan MATTHEWS (Clonkeen College, Blackrock), Paul MOFFAT (Clonkeen College, Blackrock), Colm HORGAN (Colaiste Einde, Galway), Brian LENIHAN (Presentation Brothers College, Cork), Barry SHEEDY (Colaiste Iosaef, Kilmallock), Sean MAGUIRE (CBS Kilkenny), Daniel MORRISSEY (Midleton CBS), Sean RUSSELL (Colaiste Phadraig, Lucan), Jack DOHERTY (Comeragh College), Rob LEHANE (Douglas Community School), Timmy MOLLOY (Colaiste Iognaid, Galway), Paul WHYTE (Castleisland Community College), Fearghal McMAHON (St: Macartan’s College, Monaghan), Joe O’BRIEN (Yeat’s College, Galway)
MANAGEMENT: Ollie Horgan, Manager (St: Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), Dave Archbold, Assistant Manager (Palmerstown Community School), Hugh Colhoun, Coach (St: Laurence College, Loughlinstown), Richard Fitzgibbon (GK Coach), Mickey McGlynn (Physiotherapist), Dr: Aidan Colmain (Doctor)
Northern Ireland: Wilson, McEneff, Quinn, J:Mitchell, McGuigan, Cockcroft, Duffy, Glendinning, Hanna, Murray, A:Mitchell:
Substitutes: Dawson, McIlveen, Dillon, Harkin, Hegarty, Curran, McGahan:
CENTENARY SHIELD FIXTURES 2012
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND FIXTURES
27:01:12 FAI Schools (Boys) 2/3 Australia (FR) in Dublin (L)
16:03:12 FAI Schools (Boys) v Northern Ireland (CS) in Pike Rovers FC, Limerick (3pm)
30:03:12 FAI Schools (Boys) v Scotland (CS) in RSC, Waterford (7pm)
12:04:12 FAI Schools (Boys) v Wales (CS) in Carmarthen (7pm)
26:04:12 FAI Schools (Boys) v England (CS) in Brighton (7:35pm)
OTHER CENTENARY SHIELD FIXTURES
24:02:12 Scotland 4/0 Northern Ireland (Toryglen Arena, Glasgow) KO 7pm
02:03:12 Wales 1/0 England (Haverfordwest County AFC) KO 7pm
15:03:12 Scotland v Wales (Forfar FC) KO 7pm
23:03:12 Northern Ireland v England (Linfield FC, Windsor Park, Belfast) KO 7:35pm
12:04:12 England v Scotland (Sports Direct Arena, St: James Park, Newcastle) KO 7:35pm
19:04:12 Northern Ireland v Wales (Stangmore Park, Belfast) KO 7:35pm