Scotland snatch equaliser with a minute remaining
Republic of Ireland 2 – 2 Scotland
Having defeated Wales and Northern Ireland in their previous fixtures in the FAI Schools U18 Boys Centenary Shield, the Republic of Ireland were hoping to continue the winning sequence when they entertained Scotland in Tullamore’s magnificent Leah Victoria Park.
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.
The respective defences had the better of matters in the early stages, although Scotland always looked dangerous on the break. Ireland forced the first corner of the game in the 14th minute, and it proved productive, with Moyle Park College star, John Mulroy rising high to head into the top corner of the net. Four minutes later Ireland doubled their lead when Blackrock’s Declan Edwards floated across a great ball that beat the entire Scottish defence, leaving Philip Hand to tap the ball in at the far post.
The visitors introduced two substitutes for the second half, and Hugh Kerr and Gregg Munn certainly played pivotal roles in turning the game in the visitor’s favour. Scotland lifted the tempo of the game and were denied a goal in the 56th minute when Steven Saunders was deemed to have fouled keeper Mark McGinley on route to goal.
The Republic of Ireland narrowly missed out on a third when Philip Hand’s pulsating shot on goal was saved gallantly by the keeper.
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.
The boys in green pressed forward in search of goal number three and they came close when Jake Kelly’s long range effort went just wide of the far post on 85 minutes.
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 on the 18th April (7pm).
Republic of Ireland: Mark McGinley (PCC Falcarragh, Letterkenny), David Webster (Templeogue College), Peter Acheson (Rockwell College, Cashel), Gary Murphy (Oatlands College, Stillorgan), Philip Knight (Clonkeen College, Blackrock) Declan Edwards (Blackrock College) Jack Flynn (Belvedere College), Sean Houston (St. Eunan’s Letterkenny), Philip Hand (Chanel College, Dublin), John Mulroy (Moyle Park College, Clondalkin), Shane Clarke (Limerick CBS)
Subs used: Jake Kelly (St. Laurance College) for Philip Knight (71mins), Jason Hughes (Limerick CBS) for Jack Flynn (75mins), Patrick Madden (Chanel College) for Declan Edwards (77mins).
Subs not used: Brian Collopy (Limerick CBS), Kevin Barry (Limerick CBS), Oisin McMenamin (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), Gerard Cheevers (St. Mary’s College, Galway)
Scotland: Peter Donnelly, John Tonner, Mark Millar, Don Morrison, Steven Saunders, Mark Fitzpatrick, Kevin Ireland, Liam Corr, Martin O’Neil, Chris McKee, Jonathan Boyle
Subs: Gregg Munn for John Tonner (45mins), Hugh Kerr for Mark Fitzpatrick (45mins), Steven Howarth for Jonathan Boyle (75 mins)
Referee: J. Cassidy (Athlone)