Under 18 Boys’ | Schools International Friendly
Republic of Ireland 2-1 Australia
Eoin Kenny (51), Brian Cunningham (90) Will Freney (53)
THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS defeated their Australian counterparts 2-1 in a friendly at Home Farm FC, Whitehall yesterday afternoon (Saturday, January 21).
This was the first competitive outing for John McSHANE’s select and it proved to be quite a physical battle. Captain Jesse DEMPSEY (Wexford CBS) had to come off at the break following an earlier collision.
In a scoreless first half, the visitors enjoyed much of the possession but didn’t trouble the Irish netminder Ryan DELANEY (St. Francis College, Rochestown).
The hosts were first to make an impact with Adam O’HALLORAN (Clarin College, Athenry) forcing a tremendous save from the Australian goalkeeper with 14 minutes played.
This was followed up by a glancing header from Carrick on Shannon scholar Niall HOLOHAN who went just wide of the mark at the half hour mark.
The Australian keeper was called on again just before the interval as Peter GROGAN (St. Mary’s CBS, Carlow) went close.
A string of Irish substitutions at the break saw four changes with Mansfield, Kenny, Mohan and Russell Vargas introduced and we didn’t have to wait long for the deadlock to be broken.
Eoin KENNY (St. Mary’s College, Dundalk) netted a fabulous opener with 51 minutes registered as Peter Grogan played in Kenny to slot in at the far post from 6 yards out.
However the celebrations were short lived as Will FRENEY equalised two minutes later with a sublime set piece to the top corner.
The last quarter of play was broken up with more substitutions from both benches and this proved decisive.
Brian CUNNINGHAM (Presentation College, Headford) was only on the park 15 minutes when he struck what proved to be the match winner in the 90th minute.
An incredible team goal on the counter attack as Niall Holohan intercepted a Socceroo attack. The Leitrim man played the ball down the wing to Aidan Russell Vargas who fed Cunningham at the edge of the box. The young Athenry star struck to the far post as the ball bundled past the Aussie defense.
Australia’s substitute Davd Seselja thought he got an equaliser four minutes into added time but he was ruled to be off-side so Ireland held on for the win.
A nice start for the Irish as they make final preparations for the SAFIB Centenary Shield series opener away to Scotland on February 23. The Republic of Ireland will then face Wales at home on March 9 while England come to town a fortnight later. The Irish campaign will conclude on March 30 when they travel to Blanchflower Stadium, home of H&W Welders FC to take on Simon Nicks’ side (7.0).
The Australian tour continues as the crew travel to Belfast to take on Northern Ireland on Monday afternoon. They’re scheduled to lineout against Scotland on Wednesday and the English Colleges before they jet home at the end of the month.
Henderson’s side opened their account with a two-nil victory of England Independent Schools last Sunday. This was followed up on Tuesday with a three-one win against Welsh Colleges, but failed to make it a trio of successes as Welsh Schools secured a 4-0 result over the visitors last Thursday night.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS SELECT | Ryan DELANEY (St. Francis College, Rochestown), Jonathan ADEDEJI (St. Mary’s Secondary School, Edenderry), Eli ROONEY (Summerhill College, Sligo), Niall HOLOHAN (Carrick on Shannon Community School), Senan MULLEN (St. Aidan’s Comprehensive School, Cootehill), Aaron HEALY (Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig), Ryan McBREARTY (St. Mary’s Diocesan School, Drogheda), Adam O’HALLORAN (Clarin College, Athenry), Peter GROGAN (St. Mary’s CBS, Carlow), Rhys KELLY NOONAN (Coláiste Mhuire, Crosshaven), Jesse DEMPSEY © (Wexford CBS)
SUBS USED | Ronan MANSFIELD (Blackwater Community School, Lismore) for Dempsey (HT), Eoin KENNY (St. Mary’s College, Dundalk) for Kelly Noonan (HT), Stephen MOHAN (Clonkeen College, Blackrock) for O’Halloran (HT), Aidan RUSSELL VARGAS (Lusk Community College) for McBrearty (HT), Daithi FOLAN (Belvedere College, Dublin) for Delaney (75), Brian CUNNINGHAM (Presentation College, Headford) for Grogan (75), Callum BONNER (St. Patrick’s Classical School, Navan) for Mullen (75)
MANAGEMENT | John McSHANE (Loreto Secondary School, Bray), Derek O’BRIEN, Coach (Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore) Ollie HORGAN, Coach (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), Conor FOLEY, GK Coach (Athlone Community College), Martin CAVANAGH, Equipment Manager (Carndonagh Community School), Michael McGLYNN (Physio), Dr. Aidan O’COLMAIN (Team Doctor)
AUSTRALIA SCHOOLS | Sebastian Arranz, Ryan Zanatta, Matej Busek, Ethan DeBono, Thomas Waddingham, Will Freney, Jesse Cameron, Cassidy Tanddo, Owen Henderson, Alexander Trajanoski, Liam Bonetug. SUBS USED | Cayden Hendersn for Arranz (HT), Jesse Photi for Zanatta (HT), Noah Majeroni for Waddington (62), Jack Connors for Freney (75), Christian Bracco for Busek (81), David Seselja for DeBono (85)
INJURED | Isaac Collins
MATCH OFFICIAL | Thomas Joyce (Limerick)
HEAD TO HEAD
12 played; 5 wins, 5 losses, 2 draws
DATE RESULT MANAGEMENT GOALSCORERS
January 20, 1989 Ireland 0-1 Australia Alex HARKIN, Barry McCOURT, Liam PATTON Late peno
January 10, 1992 Ireland 1-0 Australia Alex HARKIN, Barry McCOURT, Liam PATTON David Minihan
December 10, 1999 Ireland 3-4 Australia James RODGERS, Hugh COLHOUN, John M PORTER
2006 Ireland 0-1 Australia John M PORTER, Seán CARR, Hugh COLHOUN
January 25, 2008 Ireland 1-1 Australia Seán CARR, Dave ARCHBOLD, Hugh COLHOUN Philip Hand
January 28, 2010 Ireland 3-1 Australia Dave ARCHBOLD, Ollie HORGAN, Hugh COLHOUN
Darragh Walshe (22), Daryl Horgan (45), Marwin Azimi (62), Thomas McNeish (26)
January 27, 2012 Ireland 2-3 Australia Ollie HORGAN, Dave ARCHBOLD, Hugh COLHOUN
Colm Horgan (13) Ryan Meskell OG (26) Stefan Sacilotto (5), Kieran Paull (47) Chernor Bah (60)
January 26, 2015 Ireland 1-1 Australia Paddy O'REILLY, Dave ARCHBOLD, Ollie HORGAN Georgie Poynton (23), Matthew Millar (60)
Jan 21, 2017 Ireland 0-2 Australia Paddy O'REILLY, William O'CONNOR, Ollie HORGAN Hassan Jalloh (60, 70)
January 19, 2019 Ireland 3-0 Australia William O'CONNOR, John McSHANE, Ollie HORGAN
Brandon Bermingham (20 pen, 38 pen), Jake Ellis (60)
January 18, 2020 Ireland 2-1 Australia William O'CONNOR, John McSHANE, Ollie HORGAN
Brian Ahern (61, 68) Sasha Kuzevski (56 pen)
January 21, 2023 Ireland 2-1 Australia John McSHANE, Derek O'BRIEN, Ollie HORGAN
Eoin Kenny (51), Brian Cunningham (90), Will Freney (53)
2023 SAFIB Centenary Shield Fixtures
Thursday, February 23 Scotland v Republic of Ireland
Thursday, March 2 Northern Ireland v Scotland
Friday, March 3 England v Wales
Thursday, March 9 Republic of Ireland v Wales
Thursday, March 23 Wales v Northern Ireland
Friday, March 24 Republic of Ireland v England
Thursday, March 30 Northern Ireland v Republic of Ireland
Friday, March 31 Scotland v England
Thursday, April 13 Wales v Scotland
Friday, April 14 England v Northern Ireland
Result
Under 18 Boys’ International Friendly
Republic of Ireland Schools 2-1 Australia Schools
Home Farm FC, Whitehall
Saturday, January 21, KO 3pm
Fixtures
FAI Schools Junior ‘B’ Girls Munster Cup Semi Final (Under 17, Small Schools)
Midleton College vs Coláiste Mhuire, Askeaton
Midleton FC
Monday, January 23, KO 11.30am
FAI Schools Dr. Tony O’Neill Senior Connacht Cup Quarter Final (Under 19, Large Schools)
Summerhill College, Sligo vs St. Gerald’s College, Castlebar
Ray MacSharry Park, Sligo
Monday, January 23, KO 12 noon
FAI Schools Leinster Metropolitan League Division One NORTH Final
Belvedere College vs St. Paul’s College, Raheny
SportsLink, Santry
Monday, January 23, KO 1pm
FAI Schools Wicklow / Wexford Senior Boys Division One League FINAL
Woodbrook College vs Wexford CBS
Gorey Rangers FC
Monday, January 23, KO 1pm
FAI Schools Senior ‘B’ Girls National Cup Semi Final (Under 20, Small Schools)
Coláiste Oiriall, Monaghan vs CBS New Ross
Oscar Traynor Centre, Coolock (4G)
Monday, January 23, KO 1pm
FAI Schools Dr. Tony O’Neill Senior Connacht Cup Semi Final (Under 19, Large Schools)
Holy Rosary College, Mountbellow vs Calasanctius College, Oranmore
Maree Oranmore (4G)
Tuesday, January 24, KO 11.30am
FAI Schools John Murphy Senior ‘B’ Leinster Cup Final (Under 19, Small Schools)
Coláiste Ghlór na Mara, Balbriggan vs Gaelcholáiste na Mara, Arklow
Peamount United FC
Tuesday, January 24, KO 12 noon
FAI Schools Senior Girls Connacht Cup Semi Final (Under 20, Large Schools)
St. Attracta’s Community School vs Coláiste na Coiribe
Ballisodare United FC
Monday, January 23, KO 12 noon
FAI Schools John Murphy Senior ‘B’ National Cup Semi Final (Under 19, Small Schools)
St. Joseph’s SS, Foxford vs Colaiste Mhuire, Askeaton
Maree Oranmore (4G)
Tuesday, January 24, KO 2pm
FAI Schools Junior ‘B’ Girls Munster Cup Semi Final (Under 17, Small Schools)
St. Peter’s CS, Passage West vs Coláiste Íosaef, Kilmallock
Passage AFC
Wednesday, January 25, KO 11.30am
FAI Schools Dr. Tony O’Neill Senior Leinster Cup Quarter Final (Under 19, Large Schools)
St. Mary’s CBS, Portlaoise vs Wexford CBS
Portlaoise (TBC)
Wednesday, January 25 KO 12 noon
FAI Schools Junior ‘B’ Girls Ulster Cup Final (Under 17, Small Schools)
Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair vs Rosses Community School
Letterkenny Leisure Centre
Thursday, January 26, KO 11.30am
FAI Schools Leinster Metropolitan League Division Two WEST Final
Confey College, Leixlip vs Collinstown Park CC
Sacred Heart FC, Tallaght (3G)
Friday, January 27, KO 1pm
FAI Schools Junior Girls Leinster Cup Final (Under 17, Large Schools)
Athlone Community College vs Presentation Secondary School, Wexford
Naas
Friday, January 27, KO 12 noon
