SAFIB Centenary Shield | Under 18 Boys’ International
Republic of Ireland 4-0 Northern Ireland
Noah O’Brien (28, 82), Jack Sweeney (47), Ross Ruane Dalton (89)
Photo: 26 March 2026; The Republic of Ireland squad before the SAFIB Centenary Shield U18 Boys International match between Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland at Athlone Town Stadium in Athlone, Westmeath. Photo by Paul Phelan/Sportsfile
The Under 18 Boys’ Republic of Ireland Under Schools got their campaign off to winning ways with a comprehensive victory over Northern Ireland in Athlone Town AFC last Thursday afternoon (March 26)
A Noah O’BRIEN brace either side of the half as well as further goals from Jack Sweeney and substitute Ross Ruane Dalton ensured maximum points on offer.
The De La Salle College, Waterford stalwart Noah O’BRIEN broke the deadlock 28 minutes in when he rose highest at the back stick to connect perfectly from a Conor O’Neill corner.
Merlin College student Jack Sweeney was causing problems early on and smashed the crossbar nine minutes later, but the effort would have been ruled out for an offside in the buildup.
Blackrock College star Conor O’Neill saw his audacious corner kick slice off the woodwork four minutes from the interval as Alan Murphy’s side enjoyed the slender advantage at the break.
Jack SWEENEY’s patience finally paid off as he got the better of Milo Biemer two minutes after the restart to double the Republic’s tally. Again, it was O’Brien who won the ball in the middle of the park, passing to Dylan McMenamy who tried to round Barry McKervey, with Cal Weatherup following up on the loose ball. The youngster attempted to pass back to his goalkeeper only for Sweeney to incept at the edge of the box and slot into an empty net.
Waterford’s Noah O’BRIEN grabbed his second and Ireland’s third eight minutes from time with a near replica of his first. O’Neill supplying a perfectly weighted ball into the box from a corner for O’Brien to head home.
While Ross RUANE DALTON (Ballyhaunis Community School) netted a fabulous fourth just before the full-time whistle. Conor O’Neill and Charlie Campbell combining well for the latter to produce a little dink pass into the box for the Mayo student to latch onto.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
The defensive maestro Noah O’Brien (De La Salle College, Waterford) put in a solid performance for the Republic of Ireland and netted a brace to earn him the prestigious accolade.
Head Coach Alan Murphy (St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway) was delighted with the overall performance but insisted that there is more to come from this group of young players. He states, ‘It’s only the first of three games, so we will look forward to hosting Scotland in Athlone as they bounce back from a defeat to Wales last Wednesday and an opening day draw to Northern Ireland earlier this month’.
The win is vital with only a six-game series in the SAFIB Centenary Sheild as Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Wales do battle this season.
We’re at the half-way point in proceedings. Next up for Murphy’s crew is Scotland on April 2 while Northern Ireland entertain Wales in Belfast on April 8.
With one win apiece, Wales and the Republic are in the ascendency. There crunch encounter will wrap up proceedings when the Republic of Ireland travel over to Llandudno for the refixture on April 23.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS SELECT | Shane HALLIHAN (St. Colman’s College, Fermoy), Declan PATTON (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar), Rowan McGROARTY (Loreto Community School, Milford), James MORAHAN © (St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway), Noah O’BRIEN (De La Salle College, Waterford), Conor O’NEILL (Blackrock College, Dublin), Jack SWEENEY (Merlin College, Galway), Mason MURPHY (St. Paul’s Community College, Waterford), Jack GARRETT, (The Abbey School, Tipperary Town), Rory McKEON (St. Anne’s Community College, Killaloe), Dylan McMENAMY (Holy Family Community School, Rathcoole)
SUBS USED | Charlie CAMPBELL (St. Munchin’s College, Corbally) for Murphy (71), Daniel COSTELLO (Marist College, Athlone) for Patton (71), Shay CASEY (St. Mary’s College, Dundalk) for Garrett (85), Igor BACELA (Waterpark College, Waterford) for Hallihan (85), Ross RUANE DALTON (Ballyhaunis Community School) for Sweeney (85)
SUBS NOT USED | Eamonn MacBRIDE (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar), Peter SWEENEY (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar)
MANAGEMENT | Alan MURPHY, Head Coach (St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway) Conor UHL, Coach (Skibbereen Community School), Oisín McMENAMIN (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar), John POWER, GK Coach, Michael McGLYNN (Physio), Dr. Aidan O’COLMAIN (Team Doctor)
NORTHERN IRELAND | Milo Biemers, Ben Callen, Reiss Neil, Wallace Campbell, Jack Faloona, Jack Martindale, Owen Mahoney, Tiernan Brolly, Barry McKervey ©, Cal Weatherup, Alex McAllister
SUBS USED | Jacob Bond for Martindale (56), Luke McCourt for McAllister (56), Stephen Kelly for Campbell (71), Reece Schmidt for Brolly (85), Alex Houston for McKervey (85)
SUBS NOT USED | Harry Moore, Kyle Chivers
MATCH OFFICIAL | Eoin Fagan (Dublin)
2026 SAFIB Centenary Shield Results & Fixtures
RESULT
Thursday, March 5 Scotland 1-1 Northern Ireland, Airdrie FC (1.0)
Thursday, March 12 Wales P-P Republic of Ireland, Llandudno FC (2.0)
Wednesday, March 25 Scotland 2-5 Wales, Queen of the South, Dumfries (1.0)
Thursday, March 26 Republic of Ireland 4-0 Northern Ireland, Athlone Town AFC (1.0)
FIXTURES
Thursday, April 2 Republic of Ireland vs Scotland, Athlone Town AFC (1.0)
Wednesday, April 8 Northern Ireland vs Wales, Harland & Wolffe Welders (7.0)
Thursday, April 23 Wales vs Republic of Ireland, Llandudno FC (1.0)
