Ireland get perfect start to Shield Campaign
Carnegie Centenary Shield (U18 Boys)
Republic of Ireland 3 – 1 Wales
Three first-half goals were enough for the Irish Under-18 Schools to see off Wales tonight (Thursday) in their opening game of the 2009 Carnegie Under-18 Centenary Shield at Ferrycarrig Park in Wexford reports John Fallon.
Shane Howard, Andy Boyle and James Keohane supplied the goals as the Irish opened their defence of the title in encouraging fashion.
Ireland got off to a dream start within three minutes when man of the match Shane Howard scooped the ball home from close range after Welsh goalkeeper Liam Shanahan had parried Tomas Boyle’s powerful header.
Wales got a grip on proceedings soon after and after having a penalty claim turned down on 18 minutes following a challenge in the box on Nathan Logan, they equalised three minutes later.
Left-back Antonio Faciuto lofted a free-kick from the half-way line which Irish ‘keeper David Quirke completely misjudged and the ball swept over his head directly into the net.
The home side were sparked into action and created a number of chances as they upped the tempo.
Similar to the first goal, Ireland engineered their second from a corner-kick on 32 minutes – defender Andy Boyle looping his header into the top corner after the ball was only half-cleared.
Six minutes later, Ireland went 3-1 ahead when Wexford Youths midfielder Jimmy Keohane burst through the defence before rounding Shanahan in the Wales goal and tapping home.
Gary Burke on the left flank proved to be Ireland’s most attacking threat in the second half. The Larkin College Student produced a good chance on the hour mark when he exchanged passes with Shane Howard from a short corner but his angled shot was well saved at the near post.
Wales struggled to break down Ireland in the second half and stout defending by the home side ensured Quirke in the Irish goal was untroubled as they chalked up an impressive victory.
Ireland face Scotland in their next game on March 13 at Hearts FC before meeting Northern Ireland a week later (March 20) in Ballymoney and England at the Waterford RSC on April 24.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: David Quirke (St. Patrick’s College, Navan); Garvan Broughall (Athlone Community College), Andrew Boyle (Colaiste Phadraig CBS, Lucan), Tomas Boyle (Salesian College), Ian Storan (Crescent College Comprehensive); James Keohane (Kilkenny CBS), Jason Hughes (CBS Sexton St. Limerick) (Eoin Hanrahan, CBS Sexton St. Limerick 85 mins), Paul Corry (Belvedere College), Gary Burke (Larkin Community College); Carl Forsyth (Cabinteely Community College) (Brian Gaffney, St. Joseph’s College, Galway 70 mins), Shane Howard (Colaiste Eoin, Carlow) (Brian Nolan, St. Paul’s Community School, Waterford 90).
Other subs: Ryan O’Flaherty (St Kevin’s CBS), Johnny Bonner (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Eoghan Osbourne (Colaiste Ris, Dundalk), Danny Fallon (Sancta Maria College, Louisburgh)
WALES: Liam Shanahan; Kieran Hayes (Declan John 52), Gary Colbourne, Ben Evans, Antonio Faciuto; Michael Cronshaw, Ricky Maship, Kerry Morgan, Nathan Logan (Joe Price 73 mins); Scott Armitage, Luke Prosser.
Other Subs: Ricky Evans, Tom Morgan and Aaron Pritchard.
REFEREE: John Glynn
ATTENDANE: 1,000
END
Photos available from Sean Dempsey. Email seanfreepress@yahoo.ie