Under 18 Boys’ | Schools Friendly
Friday, February 2, 2024
THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS HEAD COACH Derek O’Brien has assembled a squad of nineteen players to feature in a friendly game against Galway United Under 19s in Maree Oranmore tomorrow (Saturday, February 3, KO 12 noon).
This will be the first outing for the extended squad since their 2-1 defeat to Australia a fortnight ago. Daire Patton (Summerhill College) captained the team that day with Calum Costello (Comeragh College, Carrick on Suir) coming off the bench to score. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough as the Aussie’s first half display saw them score a brace inside three minutes midway through the half. Lachlan Middleton grabbing the first closely followed by Noah Maieroni.
The Irish squad will be boosted by the return of Brian Cunningham (Presentation College, Headford) who missed out on the Australian game having picked up an injury.
Darragh Coyle (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana) misses out on the action tomorrow due to a School trip while Sam Bailey (Clonakilty Community College) is recovering from injury.
Goalkeeper Rory Moloney (Presentation Brothers College, Cork) will not be required for tomorrow’s session but will rejoin the squad when they take on the ETB select on Tuesday, February 13 in Dublin. He will be joined by Jack Ahern (Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore) as O’Brien looks to slim down his squad to eighteen players for the first home game of the International campaign.
The Republic of Ireland will take on Scotland on Thursday, February 29 closely followed by Northern Ireland a week later on Thursday, March 7. Both those games will take place in Athlone Town AFC. The squad will have a four week window then before they travel to take on England on Friday, April 5 while they conclude the SAFIB Centenary Shield with an away game to Wales on April 18.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS SELECT | Oisin COONEY (Carndonagh Community School), Kyle McDONAGH (St. Attracta’s Community School, Tubbercurry), Tom McLOUGHLIN (Malahide Community School), Robbie LYNCH (Hazelwood College, Dromcollogher), James McATEER (Loreto Community School, Milford), Adam O’HALLORAN (Clarin College, Athenry), Daire PATTON (Summerhill College, Sligo), Hugh PARKER (Temple Carrig School, Greystones), Aidan RUSSELL VARGAS (Lusk Community College), Callum DOYLE TRAVERS (St. Fintan’s High School, Sutton), Edvinas JAKAS (Lucan Community College), Sean MACKEY (Coláiste Chiarain, Leixlip), Kyle DONOGHUE (Kildare Town Community School), Rhys KELLY NOONAN (Coláiste Mhuire, Crosshaven), Callum HONOHAN (Edmund Rice College, Carrigaline), Evan LYNCH (Christian Brothers College, Cork), Calum COSTELLO (Comeragh College, Carrick on Suir), Luke DOWNEY (Glanmire Community College), Brian CUNNINGHAM (Presentation College, Headford).
MANAGEMENT | Derek O’BRIEN, Head Coach (Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore), Alan MURPHY, Coach (St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway) Ollie HORGAN, Coach (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), John POWER, GK Coach, Martin CAVANAGH, Equipment Manager (Carndonagh Community School), Michael McGLYNN (Physio), Dr. Aidan O’COLMAIN (Team Doctor)
2024 SAFIB Centenary Shield Fixtures
Friday, February 23 Northern Ireland vs England (Blanchflower Park, Welders FC) 19.00hrs
Thursday, February 29 Republic of Ireland vs Scotland (Athlone Town AFC) 19.00hrs
Thursday, March 7 Republic of Ireland vs Northern Ireland (Athlone Town AFC) 19.00hrs
Friday, March 8 Scotland vs Wales (Greenock Moron) 13.00hrs
Friday, March 22 Scotland vs Northern Ireland (Stenhousemuir) 13.00hrs
Thursday, March 28 Wales vs England (Briton Ferry) 19.00hrs
Friday, April 5 England vs Republic of Ireland (Walsall FC) 19.00hrs
Thursday, April 11 Northern Ireland vs Wales (Blanchflower Park, Welders FC) 19.00hrs
Friday, April 12 England vs Scotland (Chesterfield) 19.00hrs
Thursday, April 18 Wales vs Republic of Ireland (Briton Ferry) 19.00hrs