Republic of Ireland v Northern Ireland
The Showgrounds, Sligo Rovers FC
Monday, March 17, 2014, 3pm

THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS will have a difficult task on St. Patrick’s Day as they take on current holders Northern Ireland in the Showgrounds, Sligo Rovers FC (3pm)

This fixture will be the second competitive game for both teams.  The Republic of Ireland got off to a flyer with a win away to Wales in their opening fixture.

A brace of goals from Craig Donnellan (Coláiste Chríost Rí, Cork), Jamie McGrath (Athboy CS) and Captain Ryan Manning (Yeats College) gave the boys in green a major boost in this year’s Centenary Shield.
 
Northern Ireland however only secured a point away from home in their first competitive outing. The holders were seconds away from victory however an OG on 90 minutes cancelled out Curtis Dempster’s earlier effort midway through the second half for the Scots to snatch a point in a thrilling showdown in East Fife

Horgan is still without the services of Seán Heaney (Ardscoil Rís, Griffith Avenue) due to club commitments but welcomes back Val Feeney (Colaiste Phobail Ros Cré) who was capped last season for the Irish Schools. Aaron Robinson will make a return to the panel following his late call up against Wales. The Tallaght student will be hoping for some game time this time out.

The Northern Ireland crew are undergoing somewhat of a transition with Bob Ramsey stepping down at the helm last season which sees the introduction of management duo Frankie Wilson and Conor Marlin. The visitors will be looking to avenge last week’s mishap as they challenge the hosts for top spot on the league table.

England will travel to Wrexham on Friday night (March 14) in their opening game of 2014 against a frustrated Welsh outfit. The Welsh failed to get on the score sheet last week and preparations have been ongoing to kick start their campaign on home soil. 

England have had a good pre competition warm up with wins over the RAF colts, Keele University, Shrewsbury Town,  Wolverhampton Wanderers U18's and the Australian Schools U18's so it will be a very interesting contest for the dragons.

The penultimate game for Horgan will be the visit to England as they take to the field on March 28.  It promises to be a mouth watering tie in Ashton Gate, Bristol City FC

The Republic of Ireland will conclude their Shield campaign when Scotland make the trip to Tallaght Stadium on April 24.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Patrick DUNICAN (Killina Presentation Secondary School, Tullamore), Christopher FLANAGAN (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), Dylan KAVANAGH (Salesian College, Celbridge), Maxime LOUOGUM (Coláiste Chairain, Leixlip), Craig DONNELLAN (Coláiste Chríost Rí, Cork), Val FEENEY (Colaiste Phobáil, Ros Cré), Cian KAVANAGH (Patrician College, Finglas), Jamie McGRATH (Athboy Community School), Jack BAYLY (Salesian College, Celbridge), Michael BROWN (Maynooth Post Primary School), Aidan McCAULEY (Moville Community College), Ryan MANNING CAPTAIN (Yeats College, Galway), Darragh BLACK (Loreto Community School, Milford), Antaine Ó LAOÍ (Coláiste Cholmcille, Galway) George KELLY (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Jack BRADY (St. Anne’s Community College, Killaloe), Darragh GANNON (Lucan Community College) Aaron ROBINSON (Tallaght Community School)

NORTHERN IREAND: Kealan MULCAHY (North West Regional College), Patrick MOLLOY (St. Patrick’s Academy), Lyndon KANE (North Coast Integrated College), Cameron STEWART (Campbell College, Belfast), Daniel WILSON (La Salle Belfast), Jack MILLIGAN (Portora Royal School), Ben DOHERTY (St Columb’s College, Derry), Kris LOWE (South West Regional College), Ross LAVERY (St. Patrick’s Academy), Jamie McINTYRE (North West Regional College), Andrew HOEY (Southern Regional College), Corey McMILLEN (Coleraine Academical Institution), Ciaron HARKIN (NW Regional College), Mark SYKES (St. Mary’s CBGS, Belfast), Gavin WHYTE (Belfast Metropolitan College), Curtis DEMPSTER (Glengormley High School), Adam SALLEY (Newry Technical College), Caolan FLANAGAN (St. Paul’s High, Bessbrook)

CENTENARY SHIELD FIXTURES

Republic of Ireland Schools v Northern Ireland Schools
Monday, March 17, 2014
The Showgrounds, Sligo Rovers FC (3.00pm)

England Schools v Republic of Ireland Schools
Friday, March 28, 2014
Ashton Gate, Bristol City FC (7.00pm)

Republic of Ireland Schools v Scotland Schools
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Tallaght Stadium, Dublin (7.00pm)

Promoting the game of Association Football in all schools, contact Diane Fay, National Administrative Officer  Football Association of Ireland Schools on diane.fay@fai.ie or 01 8999522