Republic of Ireland v UCD, UCD Sports Grounds, Clonskeagh
Friday, February 18, 2011 KO 6:30pm
Dave Archbold has organised a challenge match against UCD tonight to test his charges against the students of UCD to whittle his extended panel of 21 players down to just 18 for the commencement of the Centenary Shield campaign:
The School’s setup will play host to Wales in Killarney Celtic FC on Friday, March 4 in their opening game of the season:
Archbold will have the experienced Stephen Chambers return to the squad from last season: The St: Fintan’s student featured in all four competitive shield matches last year as well as the two International friendly’s against New Zealand and Australia:
Archbold is expecting a tough physical test as history dictates and it will be ideal preparation for the Shield campaign: The Republic will travel to the Oval to play their counterparts Northern Ireland on St: Patrick’s Day, while then travelling to Dumfries on April 1 to play Scotland: Their final match will be played live on Sky Sports when the Republic of Ireland takes on England in Shamrock Rovers, Tallaght to conclude their series of matches:
The Irish management are anxious to assess their options ahead of the Welsh game and will test a number of key players and try some positional changes as they do battle in Clonskeagh:
Templeogue’s Niall Cooney and Athenry’s Billy Lane featured for the Schools team in the early rounds but missed their opportunity for the Shield encounter last season: Both players will be looking to impress and book their places this time around:
Galway’s Colm Horgan is a welcome introduction to the squad having featured for John Morling’s U17’s squad earlier in the year: His brother Daryl was also capped for FAI Schools last season and Colm will be looking to emulate the success that his brother experienced at schools level:
St: Benildus College star Paul Mannion played a pivotal role in his school’s success in claiming the Senior Leinster title a fortnight ago: Archbold will be looking for the same leadership this evening as he challenges for a place on the starting eleven:
The panel selected are sure to entertain as they will relish the prospect of further selection for the Centenary Shield series:
The Republic’s record in the Centenary Shield is very impressive as they have captured the title on no less than five occasions: Ireland secured a three in/a/row in 2003, 2004 and 2005 while the last win was last season and previously in 2008: Archbold will want nothing more than a win against the UCD students to kick start his season:
Republic of Ireland: Paul WHITE (Tralee SS), Colm MCLAUGHLIN (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Mark TIMLIN (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Gabhan COUGHLAN (School), Ross KING (School), Chris LYONS (Presentation, Bray), Paul MANNION (St: Benildus College), Ryan MATTHEWS (Clonkeen College, Blackrock), James KAVANAGH (Oatlands College), Greg MURRAY (Phobailscoil Iosolde, Palmerstown), Michael BARKER (School), James CASSERLY (St: Mary’s College, Galway), Colm HORGAN (Colaiste Einde, Galway), Billy LANE (Presentation College, Athenry), John MOURTNEY (St: Mureduch’s College, Ballina), Stephen CHAMBERS (St: Fintan’s), Niall COONEY (Templeogue College), Conor KEDDY (Carndonagh Community School), Ryan MCLAUGHLIN (Carndonagh Community School), Tony McNAMEE (Loreto Community School, Milford), Gary MERRITT (Loreto Community School, Milford)
MANAGEMENT: Dave Archbold, Head Coach (Palmerstown Community School), Ollie Horgan, Coach (St: Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), Hugh Colhoun, Coach (St: Laurence College, Loughlinstown), Ian Carry (GK Coach), Mickey McGlynn (Physiotherapist), Dr: Aidan Colmain (Doctor)
Centenary Shield Fixtures 2011
25 February Northern Ireland v Scotland (Seaview), KO 1pm
04 March England v Northern Ireland (AFC Telford United), KO 7pm
04 March Republic of Ireland v Wales (Killarney Celtic FC), KO 7pm
17 March Northern Ireland v Republic of Ireland (The Oval, Belfast), KO 7:30pm
18 March Wales v Scotland (Newport), KO 7:30pm
25 March England v Wales (Yeovil Town FC), KO 7:30pm
01 April Scotland v Republic of Ireland (Dumfries), KO TBC
14 April *Wales v Northern Ireland (Airbus UK, Broughton, N: Wales), KO 7:35pm
21 April *Scotland v England (Inverness Caledonian Thistle), KO 7:35pm
28 April *Republic of Ireland v England (Shamrock Rovers FC, Tallaght), KO 7:35pm
*Live on Sky Sports