SAFIB Centenary Shield | Under 18 Boys’ International
Monday, April 8, 2019
Tough test for Irish scholars
With an action packed night of domestic football in store on Friday evening (April 12), it will also see the Republic of Ireland’s second outing in the Centenary Shield as they play host to an impressive and physical English line-up in Dalymount Park, Dublin at 7pm.
At present Northern Ireland are enjoying the supremacy with victories at home to Scotland, away to Wales and Frankie Wilson’s side played out a scoreless draw away to England last Friday night, the first in the campaign.
The North sit on top with seven points while England have four points collected with one win courtesy of a two nil victory over the Scots, Arber and Windsor converting for the English, then that stalemate last week and an opening day home defeat to Wales (0-1).
Richy Anderson’s side will now look to finish their 2019 series with a flourish in Dublin and put some real pressure on their Northern counterparts as their Shield excursions comes to a close.
Wales and Scotland will do battle this Thursday evening (April 11) with a must win for both sides adding to the excitement of this contest.
Wales have had mixed fortunes this season with Marc Lloyd Williams having an uncomfortable night in Slough which saw his dismissal to the stand but the squad grinded out a superb 1-0 result to make up for his touch-line discrepancies.
Less than a week later, however the Welsh dragons couldn’t capitalise on this momentum as they went down 1-0 at home to Northern Ireland courtesy of Ethan Wynne’s goal after 73 minutes of play. Their final outing will be against the Republic of Ireland in Home Farm FC on April 25.
Meanwhile William O’Connor’s students will relish another top quality encounter against an English side that have improved with each game.
Connor Taylor, James Dickson, Josh Storey and substitute Adam Crowther all impressed last week. The England starlets thought they secured a dramatic injury time winner courtesy of Crowther’s glancing header but it was disallowed for off-side. Goalkeeper Sam Tickle maintained a clean sheet for the Three Lions crew as he was under sustained pressure throughout the game. They’ll take great confidence following their hard-working display in Redditch United as they look to advance in the competition.
The Irish attacking prowess was top quality against the tartan army with St. Joseph’s College star Colin Kelly and St. Mary’s DS rocket Brandon Bermingham showing well for O’Connor’s charges. Bermingham scored the crucial equaliser to cancel out Josh Mulligan’s earlier effort, both goals coming either side of the interval. A superb performance from Odumosu was required to keep the students in contention while Captain Niall O’Keeffe also playing a starring role. Another big performance is required in the Capital if the Republic are to hold on to their title ambitions in 2019.
The Irish Head Coach has made one change to the side that drew with Scotland. St. Louis CS, Kiltimagh star Jack O’Connor misses out as he recalls Dónal Higgins (Yeats College, Galway) into the side following his earlier involvement this season against Australia. The Galway man was involved with Andy Reid’s Under 18 setup a few weeks ago when they played a double header away to Turkey. St. Aidan’s pupil Ross Tierney was also involved in that campaign. Both youngsters came on as substitutes in the Turkish opener.
The Republic of Ireland have three games on the bounce with O’Connor’s penultimate clash against Northern Ireland the following week, Thursday, April 18 in Queen’s University, Belfast (6pm). Last season saw them play out a scoreless draw in Monaghan United but the hosts would welcome a point from the game to see them in title contention.
Wales will visit our shores for the final game in the ten match schedule with Home Farm FC facilitating the event at the end of the month.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND | David Odumosu (O’Fiaich College, Dundalk), Keith Carter (Colaiste Choilm Swords), Josh Honohan (St. Francis College, Rochestown), Daragh Ellison (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), Corey McBride (Carndonagh Community School), Niall O’Keeffe (De La Salle College, Waterford), Matthew O’Reilly (Midleton CBS), Colin Kelly (St. Joseph’s College, Galway), Brandon Bermingham (St. Mary’s Diocesan School, Drogheda), Jack Doherty (Carndonagh Community School), Adam Lynch (Summerhill College), Ross Tierney (St. Aidan’s CBS, Whitehall), Jamie Cleary (Drimnagh Castle CBS), James Clarke (Boyne Community School, Trim), Jake Ellis (Oaklands College, Dublin), Lee McLaughlin (Carndonagh Community School), Reece Murphy (Wexford CBS), Dónal Higgins (Yeats College, Galway)
MANAGEMENT | William O’CONNOR, Head Coach (Balbriggan Community College), John McSHANE, Assistant Coach (Dublin Oak Academy, Bray), Ollie HORGAN, Performance Analyst (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), Conor FOLEY, GK Coach (Athlone Community College), Derek O’BRIEN, Equipment Manager (Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore),Michael McGLYNN (Physio), Dr. Aidan O’COLMAIN (Team Doctor).
ENGLAND | Sam Tickle, Rob Malila, Levi Tarbotton, Connor Taylor, Josh Storey, Ross Johnstone, Ethan Cartwright, James Dickson, Owen Windsor, Declan Arber, Dean Rule, Adam Crowther, Isaac Sinclair, James Richardson, Jack Martin
MANAGEMENT | Richie ALDERSON (Manager), Luke HAMPTON (Assistant Manager), Matt GEORGE (GK Coach), Tony HARRIS (physio)
CENTENARY SHIELD RESULTS
MD1 | Thursday, March 7 | Northern Ireland 1-0 Scotland | Crusaders FC | Kick Off 3pm
MD2 | Friday, March 8 | England 0-1 Wales | Slough Town FC | Kick Off 7pm
MD3 | Thursday, March 14 | Wales 0-1 Northern Ireland | Aberystwyth Town FC | Kick Off 7pm
MD4 | Friday, March 22 | Scotland 0-2 England | Inveririe Loco FC | Kick Off 7pm
MD5 | Thursday, March 28 | Scotland 1-1 Republic of Ireland | Ayr United FC | Kick Off 7pm
MD6 | Friday, April 5 | England 0-0 Northern Ireland | Redditch United FC | Kick Off 7pm
CENTENARY SHIELD TABLE
|
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
Pts |
|
Northern Ireland |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
7 |
|
England |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
|
Wales |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
|
Republic of Ireland |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
Scotland |
3 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
-3 |
1 |
Points as of April 5
CENTENARY SHIELD FIXTURES
MD7 | Thursday, April 11 | Wales vs Scotland | Cefn Druids FC | Kick Off 7pm
MD8 | Friday, April 12 | Republic of Ireland vs England | Dalymount Park | Kick Off 7pm
MD9 | Thursday, April 18 | Northern Ireland vs Republic of Ireland | Queens University | Kick Off 6pm
MD10 | Thursday, April 25 | Republic of Ireland vs Wales | Home Farm FC | Kick Off 7pm
END
