Centenary Shield: Republic of Ireland 2 - 1 Scotland

The Republic of Ireland Under 18 Schoolboys got their 2022 Centenary Shield campaign off to the perfect start with a 2-1 victory over Scotland at Whitehall on Thursday evening.

Goals from Lennon Gill and Mikey Raggett cancelled out Che Reilly’s opening goal for the visitors as John Mc Shane’s outfit edged out their visitors in a pulsating clash played at the Home Farm grounds.

Much like William O’Connor in 2018- the last coach to win the Centenary Shield for the Republic of Ireland- this was Mc Shane’s opening game as the head coach. Also in the dugout was Ollie Horgan- in charge of Finn Harps less than a mile further down the road less than 24 hours after this game ended.

With the starting eleven coming from ten different schools- St Benildus scholars Lennon Gill and Kieran Cruise the only two to share a school- McShane had cast his net far and wide since the Interprovincial Series weekend in December. However, they had to unite on the field quickly as 22 minutes into the contest, Che Reilly broke forward and unleashed a shot from distance which may have taken a slight deflection as it arrowed past Reece Byrne in the Irish goal to open the scoring for Scotland.

That aforementioned Interprovincial series was won by Connacht, under the stewardship of Alan Murphy, and it was a Connacht scholar who played a major part in the opening goal- winger Michael McCullagh of Colaiste Bhaile Chlair wriggling into space to collect a pass down the channel and cut the ball back to Gill who made no mistake to equalise past Liam Russell less than ten minutes later.

Russell kept Craig Johnson’s Scots in the game just before half time as he clawed away Mikey Raggett’s penalty waist high to his left. The St Kieran’s College Kilkenny striker’s shot had power and accuracy but the stopper was equal to his effort to leave the scoreline level at the break.

Gill turned from scorer to provider early in the second half as he pressurised the Scottish defence into giving up the ball before finding his strike partner Raggett in the Scottish box and this time Russell had no chance with the effort.

The Scots, who had won their opening encounter against Northern Ireland, searched in vain for an equaliser but the Irish defence held firm and, marshalled by captain Tadhg Walsh of St Joseph’s CBS Fairview, restricted their visitors to one effort on goal which was bravely blocked by Reece Byrne of Oatlands College. The keeper showing why he was involved in a Republic of Ireland Under 18 training panel last summer alongside fellow squad members tonight Munstermen Leon Ayinde (Colaiste an Spioraid Naomh Cork) and Zach Dunne (Presentation Brothers Cork).

Deep into the three minutes of injury time, courtesy of substitutions including Connacht pair Darragh Reilly and striker David Tarmey as well as Munster defender Alex Healy Byrne, the ball ended up in the Irish penalty area and centre back Charlie O’Brien of Pobalscoil na Trionoide, Youghal stood firm to block a final effort. As the ball was booted clear the referee’s whistle sounded and McShane’s men took all three points ahead of their 31st March encounter with Northern Ireland.

Republic of Ireland Under 18 Schoolboys

Reece Byrne (Oatlands College) Michael Keyes (Malahide Community School), John O’Donovan (Clonakilty Community College), Eanna Clancy (St Clare’s Comprehensive, Manorhamilton), Charlie O’Brien (Pobalscoil na Trionoide, Youghal), Tadhg Walsh (St Joseph's Fairview), Michael McCullagh (Colaiste Bhaile Chlair, Galway), Steven Healy (Calasanctius College, Oranmore), Lennon Gill (St Benildus College, Stillorgan), Michael Raggett (St Kieran’s Kilkenny), Kieran Cruise (St Benildus Stillorgan)

Substitutes

Oisin Coleman (St Mary’s Diocesan School Dundalk), Alex Healy Byrne (Glanmire Community College), Darragh Reilly (St Gerald’s College, Castlebar), Leon Ayinde (Colaiste an Spiorad Naomh, Cork), Jack Ross (Presentation College Bray), Zach Dunne (Presentation Brothers, Cork), David Tarmey (Colaiste Bhaile Chlair, Galway)