Centenary Shield Winners 2008
The FAI Schools International team captured the Centenary Shield this season with impressive victories over Wales, Northern Ireland, England and a draw with Scotland:
To mark this special event, the Schools team will be honoured at the Republic of Ireland v Serbia International on Saturday:
Please come early and show your appreciation for a great achievement in the lives of these young stars of the future: The Centenary Shield will be presented to the team when they walk on to the park at 7:30pm sharp
Snap shot of their season's campaign:::
Wales 1 – 2 Republic of Ireland
St: Helen’s Grounds, Swansea, 29 February 2008
Captain Robbie Creevy and defender Gary Murphy were missing for this clash against Wales in Swansea:
The match was played in windswept conditions in St: Helen’s Cricket and Football Grounds:
The team had a hard fought 2/1 victory over the Welsh outfit: Wales opened the scoring 9 minutes in with some slack defending from the Irish: John Mulroy equalised in the second half with all to play for: The lads grew in confidence and super sub Kevin Barry found the winner with ten minutes remaining to secure victory for the Irish:
Republic of Ireland 2 – 0 Northern Ireland
Milebush Park, Castlebar, 17 March 2008
A goal apiece from John Mulroy and Jake Kelly in the first half gave the Republic of Ireland victory over Northern Ireland on St, Patrick’s Day:
It was the second win on the bounce for the Irish in their Centenary Shield campaign:
Ireland did all the early pressing and seized the initiative just past the half hour mark when Moyle Park College striker John Mulroy struck the opener by latching onto a cross from Captain Robbie Creevy and firing home:
Another well/worked move led to the second goal, scored a minute before half/time: Shane Clarke, one of four players in the Irish line/up representing the Limerick CBS Sexton Street school, found Jake Kelly with a through ball and he controlled the pass before tucking the shot beyond the goalkeeper:
Ireland withstood a spell of pressure from Northern Ireland early in the second half and held on to clinch victory:
Republic of Ireland 2 - 2 Scotland
Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore, 4 April 2008
The Republic of Ireland were without their influential Captain Robert Creevy (Salesian College, Celbridge and Shamrock Rovers) for their last home game in the competition: This did not deter the Irish from establishing a 2/0 interval lead: However, the home side lost their shape in the second half which brought Scotland right back into the game:
Slack defending by the home side contributed to Scotland’s opening goal in the 68th minute, which came courtesy of their Captain, Liam Corr: He was allowed all the time in the world to head past McGinley from close range:
Just when Ireland appeared to have secured victory over the Scots, the visitors struck a minute from time with a goal that was worthy of being a match/winner, Liam Corr splitting the home defence with a great pass to Kevin Ireland, who promptly buried in the corner of the net:
The draw leaves the Republic with a fighting chance to capture the Centenary Shield when they make the trip over to the Stadium of Light, Sunderland to face England in the finale of their campaign
England 0 - 1 Republic of Ireland
Stadium of Light, Sunderland, 18 April 2008
Sean Carr’s men got the victory the needed at the Stadium of Light on Friday night against a confident England side to capture the Centenary Shield:
The travelling Irish lapped up the electric atmosphere in the Stadium as they pressed forward at every opportunity:
England was eager to advance and had a number of missed opportunities in the opening minutes from Luke Cole and Tom Grice who squandered both opportunities in front of goal:
John Mulroy had a great shot saved by the in/form keeper Wannell on 32 minutes while Shane Clarke expertly played in Kevin Barry who just sent his effort wide of the left post on 37 minutes:
John Mulroy of Moyle Park College, Clondalkin scored the only goal of the contest with 39 minutes played when a penalty was awarded after he was fouled inside the box:
It was the fourth goal of the campaign for the stiker, as he scored in every one of Ireland’s games: Mulroy plays his club football for Bray Wanderers in the eircom League of Ireland Premier Division:
Captain Robert Creevy controlled the midfield with some splendid through balls into Clarke and Barry up front: However, Ireland was unable to capitalise on their lead:
England applied the pressure late on but the Irish defence were too strong for the rare English attack:
The Irish concluded the four game series undefeated on ten points after beating Wales, Northern Ireland and England as well as drawing with Scotland:
Republic of Ireland Panel:
1: Brian Collopy CBS Sexton St: Limerick
2: Mark O’Reilly Chanel College, Dublin
3: Sean Houston St: Eunan’s College, Letterkenny
4: Philip Knight Clonkeen College, Blackrock
5: David Webster Templeogue College, Dublin
6: Declan Edwards Blackrock College, Dublin
7: Oisin McMenamin St: Eunan’s College, Letterkenny
8: Robbie Creevy Salesian College, Celbridge
9: Shane Clarke CBS Sexton St: Limerick
10: John Mulroy Moyle Park College, Clondalkin
11: Jason Hughes CBS Sexton St: Limerick
12: Jack Flynn Belvedere College, Dublin
13: Gary Murphy Oatlands College, Stillorgan
14: Jake Kelly St: Laurance College, Loughlinston
15: Gerard Cheevers St: Mary’s College, Galway
16: Mark McGinley PCC Falcarragh, Letterkenny
17: Kevin Barry CBS Sexton St: Limerick
18: Peter Acheson Rockwell College, Cashel
19: Philip Hand Chanel College, Dublin
20: Paddy Madden Chanel College, Dublin
Management:
Manager: Sean Carr, St: Eunan’s College, Letterkenny
Assistant Manager: Dave Archbold, Palmerstown College
Coach: Hugh Colhoun, St: Laurance College, Loughlinstown
Goalkeeping Coach: Ian Carry, FAI
Physio: Micky McGlynn
Doctor: Dr: Aidan Colman