Republic of Ireland 2-1 England
Adam Brennan (20), Jack Sweeney (42) Ashton Houlahan (61)
THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS wrapped up their Centenary Shield series with a victory over England in Athlone Town AFC last night (Thursday, April 24). Harps defender Daniel Cunningham made his first start for Ireland Schools and played the full game in a famous win.
The opening goal came with quarter of an hour played with Matt Jones (St. Flannan’s College, Ennis) spraying the ball across field to Rhys Knight (Clonkeen College) at the back post. He controlled it perfectly to play in Adam BRENNAN who smashed home from six yards out.
Ireland invaluably doubled their tally three minutes from the break with Jack SWEENEY poking home from close range after some brilliant work from Rhys Knight to get Callum Lynch on the ball, as the Sligo youngster rounded two defenders to turn supplier for Sweeney.
Ireland took the two-goal cushion into half-time.
England grabbed one back through second half substitute Ashton HOULAHAN on 61 minutes.
The Republic of Ireland managed the game out to claim another consecutive win as the series drew to a close.
A fitting win to end Head Coach Derek O’Brien’s seven-year tenure with the Ireland set-up as the Irish side played some wonderful football.
CHAMPIONS
Following Northern Ireland’s 0-3 victory over Wales last night in the other outing, the Welsh missed out on a share of the spoils as Scotland capture the title outright for 2025 with 8 points on the board. Northern Ireland were second on 7 points while the Republic of Ireland finished third with six points.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS | Kyle GABBIDON (Coola Post Primary School, Sligo), Alain KIZENGA © (St. Mac Dara’s Community College, Templeogue), James MORAHAN (St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway), Adam NOLAN (Maynooth Community College), Daniel CUNNINGHAM (Coláiste na Carraige, Carrick, Donegal), Oisín KELLY (Ballyhaunis Community School), Rhys KNIGHT (Clonkeen College, Blackrock), Callum LYNCH (Summerhill College, Sligo), Matt JONES (St. Flannan’s College, Ennis), Adam BRENNAN (Hartstown Community School), Jack SWEENEY (Merlin College, Galway)
SUBS | Fionn McNAMARA (St. Patrick’s College, Cavan) for Lynch (61), Sam NEVILLE (Patrician Secondary School, Newbridge) for Knight (79), Jacob CARROLL (St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway) for Morahan (79), Billy REGAN (St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway) for Kizenga (87),
UNUSED SUBS | MacDaragh SCANLON (St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway),Luke DOOLAN (St. Brendan’s College, Killarney), Aaron CASS (Abbey Community College, Ferrybank),
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)
ENGLAND | Joel Neale, Luke Jones, Charlie Matthews, Theo Ezea, Patrick McGowran, Jack Wallace, Joseph Kennedy, Alex Vick ©, Luca Taylor, Malachy Bowyer, Gilda Da Silva