Republic of Ireland to take on England in Centenary Shield

Centenary Shield

Press Release: Monday, April 4, 2016

Republic of Ireland to take on table toppers England

PARK HALL STADIUM, the New Saints FC will play host to the INSPIRESPORT CENTENARY SHIELD encounter between league leaders England and reigning Champions, the Republic of Ireland on Friday evening, April 8 at 7.30pm

This will be England’s final game in the series, having enjoyed three wins from three. On the other hand, the visitors have only played one, their St. Patrick’s Day opener in Arklow Town FC which saw a scoreless draw with rivals Northern Ireland.

England have been in phenomenal form recently with the late winner proving decisive on a number of occasions. The English side were fortunate to come out of Comber with three points following a late penalty from Zak Lilley eight minutes from time to take the tie. Northern Ireland’s Ferris had given the home team the advantage with 20 minutes remaining but this was cancelled out by Jos Thomas seven minutes later to make it a pulsating finale to the game. Northern Ireland had a goal ruled off side in injury time to deny the Northerner’s a share of the spoils. 

Again the English enjoyed another valuable away win when they faced Wales in Bangor City FC three weeks ago, coming from behind to stun the home crowd. George Lamb equalised on 40 minutes following the opening goal seven minutes previously from Welsh youngster Nathan Wood. Up popped Aaron Smith on 84 minutes to slot home the match winner following a goal mouth scramble from a frantic set piece.

The third outing of the series saw England at home to the Scots last Friday night in Fleetwood Town FC. There was no April Fool spoiler as substitute Aaron Smith grabbed a brace in the second half with his last gasp winner coming two minutes into injury time.

Blight and Lavelle are aware that confidence is naturally high in the camp coming into their final home game of the Inspiresport Centenary Shield campaign on Friday evening. Realistically a point against the Republic would be enough to see them lift the prestigious title which they last captured in 2014.

Paddy O’Reilly’s men will relish this test as it’s always an epic encounter between these two talented sides. The Irish will go all out for this must win encounter. The Republic of Ireland Schools select sees two changes to the squad that faced Northern Ireland three weeks ago. Conor Kane of Coláiste Phadraig, Lucan CBS has recovered from injury to re-join his team and there has been a late call up for Clonkeen College student Eric Donnelly for this outing.

O’Reilly will take many positives from the Northern Ireland game which saw Carrigaline CS scholar Aaron Drinan create some real goal scoring opportunities. His link play with left back Liam Scales (Gaelcholáiste na Mara) threatened the Northern defence on several occasions and Scales was unfortunate not to score in injury time only for some goalkeeping heroics from Jack Ferguson. Another key man that day was the industrious Marino College pupil Dylan Grimes who worked extremely hard to carve out an opening for the Irish strike force.

Indeed the Republic of Ireland was assisted by some solid defending from Liam Scales, Killian Brouder (Desmond College) and Darragh Gibbons (St. Colmcille’s CS, Knocklyon) who managed to hinder any goal scoring prospects for the visitors.

Following this crunch encounter, O’Reilly will enjoy a home game against Scotland in the penultimate decider next Thursday, April 14 in Celtic Park, Killarney with a 7pm kick off scheduled. The final game of the 2016 series sees the Republic of Ireland travel to Llandudno to take on Wales on Thursday, April 28 with another 7pm start.

ENGLAND: Wycherley, O’Malley, Orisataka, Cook, Wisson (Captain), Shonibare, Breen, Smith, Bradshaw, Lilley, Thomas, Mouanada, O’Halloran, Lawrence, Hartshorne Woodward, Grange, Lamb

MANAGEMENT: Andy Blight & Ben Lavelle

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: David COFFEY (Coláiste Muire, Cobh),Eric DONNELLY (Clonkeen College, Blackrock), Shane HANNEY (Clonkeen College, Blackrock), Ryan O’DONOGHUE (Our Lady’s Secondary School, Belmullet), Darragh GIBBONS (St. Colmcille’s Community School, Knocklyon), Conor McCARTHY (Scoil Mhuire gan Smál, Blarney), Liam SCALES (Gaelcholáiste na Mara, Arklow), Killian BROUDER (Desmond College, Newcastle West), Conor KANE (Coláiste Phádraig, Lucan CBS), Gareth DOHERTY (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar), Eoghan MORGAN (Mount Temple Comprehensive School, Clontarf), Jesse STAFFORD LACEY (Mercy SS, Mounthawk, Tralee), Dylan GRIMES (Marino College, Fairview), Adrian DELAP (Loreto Community School, Milford), Kyle DOHERTY (Comeragh College, Carrick on Suir), Aaron DRINAN (Carrigaline Community School), Jamie AHERNE (Confey College, Leixlip), Billy BANDA (Royal & Prior Comprehensive School, Raphoe)

MANAGEMENT: Paddy O’REILLY, Manager (Trinity Comprehensive School, Ballymun), William O’Connor, Assistant Manager (Scoil Mhuire SS, Buncrana), Ollie HORGAN, Coach (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), Conor FOLEY, GK Coach (Athlone Community College), Paul MASTERSON (Equipment Manager), John McSHANE, Coach/Video Analyst (Dublin Oak Academy, Bray), Mickey McGLYNN (Physiotherapist), Dr. Aidan O’COLMAIN (Team Doctor)

InspiresportCentenary Shield Table

^{April 1, 2016: Placing's are calculated on points only.}

Inspiresport Centenary Shield RESULTS

Friday, February 26   Scotland 1-1 Northern Ireland in Lesser Hampden, Glasgow, KO 7pm

Friday, March 4          Northern Ireland 1-2 England in Comber, KO 4pm

Thursday, March 17   Republic of Ireland 0-0 Northern Ireland in Arklow Town FC, KO 1pm

Friday, March 18         Wales 1-2 England in The Book People Stadium, Bangor City FC, KO 7pm

Thursday, March 24  Scotland 0-1 Wales in Harlow Park, Inverurie Local Works FC, KO 7.30pm

Friday, April 1               England 2-1 Scotland in Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood Town FC, KO 7pm

Inspiresport Centenary Shield FIXTURES

Friday, April 8              England vs Republic of Ireland in Park Hall Stadium, The New Saints FC, Oswestry, KO 7.30pm

Thursday, April 14      Republic of Ireland vs Scotland in Celtic Park, Killarney Celtic FC, KO 7pm

Friday, April 15            Northern Ireland vs Wales in Comber FC, KO 4.30pm

Thursday, April 28      Wales vs Republic of Ireland in Llandudno, KO 7pm

CENTENARY SHIELD ROLL OF HONOUR

END