England U18 Schools v Republic of Ireland U18 Schools
The Republic of Ireland Under 18 Schools' team will take on England in Brighton & Hove FC on Thursday next, April 26, 2012 in the conclusion of the Centenary Shield campaign (KO 7:35pm):
Irish Manager Ollie Horgan (St: Eunan’s College, Letterkenny) will be hoping Coláiste Éinde skipper Colm Horgan can rally his troops to victory for the second time this season following two consecutive draws:
The squad will be strengthened by the return of Cork student John Kavanagh and Coláiste Phadraig pupil Sean Russell for the away tie: The pair have been passed fit to play following their marked absence away to Wales:
Wales had a brace of goals within three minutes: The Welsh outfit took the lead courtesy of Jamie McDaid seven minutes into the second period: This lead was doubled three minutes later when Ryan Jones converted from close range:
The Republic of Ireland endured a disappointing first half and with the side 2/0 down within ten minutes of the second period, the boys in green faced an uphill battle:
However their sheer determination paid off as twenty minutes from time Rob Henihan gave Horgan’s side a lifeline when he snatched one back for the visitors from a corner kick: The Irish gained momentum from the goal and were awarded a second on 89 minutes when Joe O’Brien scored the equaliser: A vital point gained to keep the Irish dream alive
Wales are top of the table following the points shared last week and face Northern Ireland tonight (April 20) in the biggest game of their lives as a win in Dungannon would see the Welsh lift the Shield this year: The game will be televised live on Sky Sports (KO 8:05pm): Unfortunately current holders and tonight’s hosts Northern Ireland are out of contention for silverware as they have so far failed to score in the competition: Scotland shared the honours with the North last year but both sides couldn’t replicate the previous season’s form this time around: Scotland is positioned fourth in the table on four points, one behind the Republic of Ireland:
A defeat for Wales tonight could make things somewhat interesting as England are currently second in the group on six points with the Republic of Ireland one point behind their hosts: If Wales were to slip up tonight a win for either team next week could ensure the coveted title:
England has enjoyed an extensive training programme in preparation for the Centenary Shield this year: The English Schools team held friendly matches against the Royal Navy U/25s, the Royal Air Force Development Squad, Australia and Poland before venturing on a Spanish tour to play Benidorm and CF Valencia: The English have built up many victories along the way and the confidence in the camp as been building quite well since December:
The Republic on the other hand have held a limited number of friendly fixtures themselves against opposition such as UCD and Salthill Devon as well as their annual game against Australia each January: However, this has not deterred the management structure of Horgan, Archbold and Colhoun in providing the best possible preparation for their panel: The trio bring together a wealth of experience to the squad which should hold them in good stead for the trip across the Channel:
The experience gained from last season will be instrumental for centre back Ryan Matthews and skipper Colm Horgan as they line out next Thursday evening: Both players have been key to the Irish team dynamic and have shared much of their wisdom to the rest of the players:
Spirits have been high in the Irish camp following Lenihan and O’Brien’s brace against the league leaders: The Irish are now motivated to go out and put one past the English as players want to impress in their final schools International:
Moffat, Lenihan, O’Donnell, Sheedy, Maguire and Morrissey have been exceptional this season for the schools setup:
It will be extremely difficult for Horgan to select his starting eleven as players such as Doherty, McMahon, Molloy, O’Brien and Lehane have also impressed throughout the campaign:
Netminders Comerford and Corbett have been solid when called upon and unfortunately one only man can be allocated the number one jersey come match day:
16 year old Monaghan student Fearghal McMahon, who studies at St: Macarthan’s College would have had limited playing time this season but an added advantage for the Mon’s player is that he will be eligible to play for the schools team next season: Horgan will be priming the youngster for greater things next year if the student isn’t snapped up by a premiership side:
This is the final game in charge for English Schools Manager Andy Williams as he ends his tenure with the English Schools FA after many years of sterling service to the Association: Williams will want to go out on a positive note and this should spur his team to victory:
England’s last game against Scotland saw them enjoy a 2/0 victory at home: Both goals came at vital times in the second half, and both were extremely well taken:
Michael Sweet is a prolific goal/scorer having scored seven goals now in six games for England: Sweet got the opener on sixty two minutes against the Scots and this was doubled twenty minutes later by a rifling shot on target from Peter Glen/Ravenhill:
Midfielder Tom Fouhy and centre forward Joe Bunny were exceptional for the English along with a solid defensive partnership:
The hosts will enter the game high in confidence following their win at Newcastle: Speaking after the Scotland game Williams stated “that the squad were encouraged by the performance on two fronts, firstly, that they had acquitted themselves well and secondly, that they knew exactly what they wanted to achieve over the full 90 minutes”: There is no doubting that the English will have done their homework when they line out against the Republic next week:
Irish Manager Ollie Horgan will definitely be up for the challenge posed in Brighton and he knows that his team will have been inspired by the remarkable comeback made against the Welsh:
The squad have an ingrained self belief and team spirit that should prove pivotal in this the final game of the season: Honour is at stake for these two teams as well as the three points on offer:
A blend of maturity and experience in this Irish squad will ensure a highly entertaining game against the English: Away performances in this tie seem to reap the rewards as England struck a late winner at Tallaght Stadium in a five/goal thriller to overcome the Republic of Ireland 2/3 last season:
In 2010 the Republic travelled to Burton Albion where they overcame the English with a solitary goal courtesy of Athlone’s Robbie Benson to capture the Shield: This was the last time in which the Irish secured the honours:
England last shared the title with Northern Ireland in 2009 when they defeated the Republic in Waterford to claim an all important away victory:
Much is expected of the English on home soil so Horgan can ensure the pressure is kept to the optimum with a lively start to proceedings anticipated:
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND:Evan COMERFORD (CBS High School, Clonmel), John KAVANAGH (Oatlands College), Anthony O’DONNELL (Carrigaline Community School), Pierce SWEENEY (Colaiste Raithin, Bray), Ryan MATTHEWS (Clonkeen College, Blackrock), Paul MOFFAT (Clonkeen College, Blackrock), Colm HORGAN (Colaiste Einde, Galway), Brian LENIHAN (Presentation Brothers College, Cork), Barry SHEEDY (Colaiste Iosaef, Kilmallock), Sean MAGUIRE (CBS Kilkenny), Daniel MORRISSEY (Midleton CBS), Sean RUSSELL (Coláiste Phadraig, Lucan), Jack DOHERTY (Comeragh College), Rob LEHANE (Douglas Community School), Timmy MOLLOY (Colaiste Iognaid, Galway), Niall CORBETT (Clonaslee Vocational School, Laois), Fearghal McMAHON (St: Macartan’s College, Monaghan), Joe O’BRIEN (Yeat’s College, Galway)
MANAGEMENT: Ollie Horgan, Manager (St: Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), Dave Archbold, Assistant Manager (Palmerstown Community School), Hugh Colhoun, Coach (St: Laurence College, Loughlinstown), Richard Fitzgibbon (GK Coach), Mickey McGlynn (Physiotherapist), Dr: Aidan Colmain (Doctor)
ENGLAND:Betts, Axford, Newton, Mobbs, Harrington, Pounce, Jones, Glen/Ravenhill, Bunney, Sweet, Fouhy
Subs:Davies, Artwell, Downey, Sidley/Adams (GK), Golby, Venning, Mooney
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND FIXTURES & RESULTS
27:01:12 FAI Schools (Boys) 2/3 Australia (FR) in Dublin (L)
16:03:12 FAI Schools (Boys) 1/0 Northern Ireland (CS) in Pike Rovers FC, Limerick (W)
30:03:12 FAI Schools (Boys) 1/1 Scotland (CS) in RSC, Waterford (D)
12:04:12 FAI Schools (Boys) 2/2 Wales (CS) in Carmarthern (D)
26:04:12 FAI Schools (Boys) v England (CS) in Brighton
OTHER CENTENARY SHIELD FIXTURES
24:02:12 Scotland 4/0 Northern Ireland (Toryglen Arena, Glasgow) KO 7pm
02:03:12 Wales 1/0 England (Haverfordwest County AFC) KO 7pm
15:03:12 Scotland 1/2 Wales (Forfar FC) KO 7pm
23:03:12 Northern Ireland 0/4 England (Linfield FC, Windsor Park, Belfast) KO 7:35pm
12:04:12 England 2/0Scotland (Sports Direct Arena, St: James Park, Newcastle) KO 8:05pm
19:04:12 Northern Ireland v Wales (Dungannon Swifts FC) KO 8:05pm
END