Ireland face tough test against England
17 April 2009
The RSC in Waterford will play host to the Republic of Ireland (U18 Boys) Schools team as they take on England in the final game of the Carnegie Centenary Shield on Friday, 24 April which will be live on Sky Sports (KO 7.35pm).
The Republic of Ireland under the leadership of Manager, Hugh Colhoun have been very successful in this competition to date and remain unbeaten with victories over Northern Ireland and Wales while drawing with Scotland this season.
The Irish are optimistic about this crunch encounter having beaten the English 1-0 last season in the impressive Stadium of Light to capture the prestigious title.
“There is never any trouble motivating the lads for the England game because it becomes the benchmark each season” says Colhoun, “we have had some cracking games over the last number of years and I have no doubt that this game will be no different”
In the last ten meetings between the two sides; Ireland has enjoyed the upper hand, losing only once in 1995. In the intervening period Ireland beat England six times while drawing three times. With this track record Ireland will be hoping for victory in their biggest test to date.
Colhoun has faith in the squad’s ability to overcome the English but he has made three minor changes with the introduction of the experienced goalkeeper Gerard Hanley replacing David Quirke and Donegal’s Cillian Morrison and Mayo’s Danny Fallon making a welcome return for Eoghan Osborne and Eoin Hanrahan. Both Fallon and Morrison have been part of the schools setup prior to this game and will relish the opportunity awarded to them.
The Schools team received a huge boost when seven members of the side, namely, Jimmy Keohane (Kilkenny CBS), Paul Corry (Belvedere), Shane Howard (Colaiste Eoin), Andrew Boyle (Colaiste Phadraig CBS), Jason Dwane (St. Peter’s College, Dunboyne) and Jason Hughes (Limerick CBS) and Ian Storan (Crescent College Comprehensive) were selected on the Republic of Ireland U18 squad which travelled to Larnaca last week to play Cyprus in two friendly matches. This experience at International level should give the boys the edge their need to overcome an impressive English selection.
England will prove worthy opposition for the Irish having last captured the Centenary Shield in 2002 and the side are hungry to avenge their defeat of last season. England however have to focus on their match with Scotland tonight (17 April) at St. Mirren FC in their penultimate game of the competition which is live on Sky Sports 2 KO 7.35pm. It is imperative that England win if they are to have any aspirations of lifting the Carnegie Centenary Shield this season after they slipped up in their last match, a 1-0 defeat at home to Northern Ireland, in what was a poor performance by the young lions.
Scotland currently lie bottom of the table after they lost 1-0 to fellow strugglers Wales 1-0 at Port Talbot Town FC on 2 April. England can expect a competitive performance from hosts Scotland as they will be keen to avoid finishing the season propping up the table.
Another interesting tie for the Republic of Ireland is the Wales v Northern Ireland clash which is scheduled for Monday, 20 April in Colwyn Bay. Northern Ireland are just one point behind the Republic with the final game a must win for Colhoun’s men.
Tickets for the Republic of Ireland v England game cost €5 adults and €2 students, and are available from Mairead Collins, FAI Schools International Secretary, by calling 087 954 8661(mobile), or e-mail: secfais@oceanfree.net
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND PANEL
No Player School Club
No. 1 Aaron MCCAREY St. Macartan’s College Monaghan United
No. 2 Neil HARNEY St. Aloysius College Belvedere
No. 3 Ian STORAN Crescent College Comprehensive Limerick FC
No. 4 Garvan BROUGHALL Athlone Community College Belvedere
No. 5 Tomas BOYLE Salesian College Leixlip United
No. 6 Jason HUGHES CBS Sexton Street, Limerick Limerick FC
No. 7 Gary BURKE Larkin Community College Belvedere
No. 8 Paul CORRY Belvedere College Belvedere
No. 9 Carl FORSYTH Cabinteely Community School Cherry Orchard
No. 10 Shane HOWARD Colaiste Eoin, Hacketstown, Carlow Belvedere
No. 11 Brian GAFFNEY St. Joseph’s College, Galway Salthill Devon
No. 12 Andrew BOYLE Colaiste Phadraig CBS, Lucan UCD
No. 13 James KEOHANE CBS Kilkenny Wexford Youths
No. 14 Jason DWANE St. Peter’s College, Dunboyne Home Farm
No. 15 Robert BENSON Marist College, Athlone Athlone Town
No. 16 Gerard HANLEY St. Joseph’s College, Galway Galway United
No. 17 Danny FALLON Sancta Maria College Sligo Rovers
No. 18 Cillian MORRISON St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny Derry City
Management
Hugh Colhoun St. Laurance College, Loughlinstown Manager
Dave Archbold Palmerstown Community School Assistant Manager
Ollie Horgan St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny Coach
Ian Carry FAI Schools Development Officer GK Coach
Mickey McGlynn - Physio
Aidan O’Colmain - Doctor
Carnegie Centenary Shield Table 2008-2009 P W D L F A GD PTS
Republic of Ireland 3 2 1 0 6 2 4 7
Northern Ireland 3 2 0 1 3 3 0 6
England 2 1 0 1 3 1 2 3
Wales 3 1 0 2 2 6 -4 3
Scotland 3 0 1 2 2 4 -2 1
Placings are calculated on points only as of 6 April
END