England 0-0 Republic of Ireland
England held out for a scoreless draw to William O’Connor’s Schools select in Kenilworth Road home of Luton Town FC last night.
Tubbercurry’s Liam Kerrigan featured once again for the Irish in midfield, having made his senior debut for Sligo Rovers just last week, and featured for St Attracta’s in the Connacht Senior A Championship final last weekend.
The lively encounter saw a missed opportunity for Yeats College scholar Ryan Manning after just four minutes as his perfectly positioned set piece was saved brilliantly by Callum Coulter in the English goal
England created some half chances from Irish defensive errors as Balla student Luke McNicholas was called into action to deny Emmanual Ogunride and Adam Crowther in quick succession.
The Irish came close to breaking the deadlock just before the interval as St. Attracta’s CS pupil Liam Kerrigan turned supplier for St. Kevin’s CC Jake Walker to head on target but again Coulter was on hand to palm to safety
Captain Cormac Pike and Jack Butler were linking up well throughout the game but some powerful defending by Adam Conway of De La Salle ensured the stalemate remained.
Ali Regbha was unfortunate to see his effort nick the post on the hour mark as the Chanel College star dominated proceedings.
Clondalkin youngster Walker was a constant threat in front of goal but the English keeper kept him and Cahir scholar Cian Murphy at bay with an impressive clean sheet.
The Irish made two changes to the squad that overcame Wales with Lido Lofeta (Balbriggan CC) and Peter Adigun (Riversdale CC) not available for this fixture. Grennan College player Colm Whelan and St. Eunan’s College pupil James Carolan got the nod for the English clash with both youngsters getting some valuable game time late on in proceedings as well as Templeogue’s Jack Ryan who was introduced for the Irish.
Balbriggan CC mentor William O’Connor will have some difficult selection choices to make as he now enjoys two home ties for his Centenary Shield endeavours
POTM
Ali REGBHA (Chanel College, Coolock) was named Player of the Match following his awesome performance for the Republic of Ireland.
MATCHDAY4
This was the host’s first competitive outing of their Centenary Shield campaign while the Republic of Ireland had a win under their belts courtesy of a 2-1 victory away to Wales three weeks ago. The point sees the Republic of Ireland top of the table as Northern Ireland and Wales shared the spoils with a 1-1 draw in the other fixture during the week as well as a scoreless draw with Scotland v Northern Ireland earlier in the month.
The English will be the more relieved of the two following their display last night as they now focus their attention to Scotland next Friday as York City FC play host.
NEXT UP
Following the England encounter, O’Connor’s side will be out again on March 29 in Monaghan United FC as they take on their Northern counterparts in their penultimate fixture. The Irish will then entertain Scotland in their final game of the season when they face the tartan army on April 12 in Home Farm FC, Whitehall. Both home games have a 2pm kick off.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SELECT | Luke McNicholas (Balla Secondary School), Adam Conway (De La Salle College, Waterford), Darryl Walsh (St. Declan’s Community College), Adam Rooney (Yeats College, Galway), Cian Lee (Boyne Community School), Ronan Manning (Yeats College, Galway) Rory Doyle (St. Francis College, Rochestown), Liam Kerrigan (St. Attracta’s CS, Tubbercurry), Ali Regbha (Chanel College, Coolock), Cian Murphy CAPTAIN (Coláiste Dun Iascaigh, Cahir), Jake Walker (St. Kevin’s Community College, Clondalkin)
SUBS USED | Colm Whelan (Grennan College, Thomastown) for MURPHY (76), Jack Ryan (Templeogue College) for WALKER (84), James Carolan (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny for REGBHA
SUBS NOT USED | Adam O’Connor (St. Clare’s College, Ballyjamesduff), Kieran Farren (Carndonagh Community School), Daniel Houghton GK (Carndonagh Community School), James Carroll (St. Oliver’s Community College, Drogheda)
MANAGEMENT | Head Coach William O’Connor (Balbriggan Community College), Coach John McShane (Dublin Oak Academy, Bray), GK Coach Conor Foley (Athlone Community College), Performance AnalystOllie Horgan (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), Kit Manager Paddy Carr (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana) Physio Mickey McGlynn Doctor Aiden O’Colmain
ENGLAND | Callum Coulter, Fraser Colling, Sam McCallum, Adam Crowther, Cormac Pike, Jack Butler, Harvey Howell, Noah Smerdon, Cieran Jackson, Emmanuel Ogunrinde, Ryan Penny
SUBS | Daniel Gould (GK), Ethan Brookes, Alex Doyle, Kyle O’Connor-Ajayi, Robert Deda, David Neligwa, King Baidoo
2018 Centenary Shield Results
February 15 Wales 1-2 Republic of Ireland The Rock, Cefn Druids FC (7pm)
March 9 Scotland 0-0 Northern Ireland Renfrew FC (7pm)
March 15 Northern Ireland 1-1 Wales Armagh City AFC (2pm)
March 16 England 0-0 Republic of Ireland Kenilworth Stadium, Luton Town FC (7pm)
2018 Centenary Shield Fixtures
March 23 England vs Scotland Bootham Crescent, York City FC (7pm)
March 29 Republic of Ireland vs Northern Ireland Monaghan United FC (2pm)
March 29 Wales vs England Cardiff Metropolitan University FC (7pm)
April 6 Northern Ireland vs England Belfast (7pm)
April 12 Republic of Ireland vs Scotland Home Farm FC, Whitehall (2pm)
April 19 Scotland vs Wales Queen of the South FC (7pm)
