Mayo schoolboy in Irish squad for Centenary Shield opener
New Republic of Ireland Schools head coach John McShane (International School Dublin) has named 18 players for his opening match against Scotland at Home Farm FC next Thursday (March 17) – including a student at St. Gerald's College in Castlebar, Darragh Reilly.
Currently with Sligo Rovers, Darragh is a former Castlebar Celtic player. His impressive form during trials has assured him of his place in the squad.
Westport native Conor Walsh (Summerhill College and formerly of Rice College), a former Westport United player now with the Bit o' Red, is an absentee for this game as he is involved with Colin O’Brien’s Under 17s set up. He may be called upon at a later date if his schedule permits.
Darragh and Conor's Sligo Rovers team-mate Eanna Clancy, a student at St. Clare's Comprehensive School, Manorhamilton, is also in the squad, with further representation from the west through Michael McCullagh, David Tarmey (both Coláiste Bhaile Chláir) and Steven Healy (Calasanctius College, Oranmore).
The St. Patrick’s Day encounter will ensure the festivities in the capital last that little bit longer as proceedings kick off at 7 p.m. in the Whitehall venue.
Following the FAI Schools interprovincial tournament last December, McShane and his management staff whittled down the 64 players that starred in that event to nearly 30 players for his initial trial. Over the course of the next three months, they cut the training squad accordingly, with a number of students on standby should their services be required over the campaign.
The Republic of Ireland Schools last won the Shield in 2018, when William O’Connor (Balbriggan Community College) made his management debut.
The Centenary Shield makes a welcome return following a two-year absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Last week saw the first of 10 games streamed on the BBC iPlayer (red button) as Scotland took on long-serving champions Northern Ireland, who were crowned back in April 2019. The game served up five spectacular goals, with Scotland edging out Frankie Wilson’s Northern Ireland scholars.
Northern Ireland were out again yesterday (Thursday) and got their campaign back on track with a 3-0 victory over Wales in Belfast.
The second of the Republic of Ireland’s fixtures will see the team travel to Maginn Park in Buncrana to take on their Northern counterparts.
The third outing will see the Republic of Ireland play England in Eastleigh FC, while their campaign will conclude in Caernarfon FC at the end of April against Wales. McShane will be hopeful that his team are still be in contention at that stage.