THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS will entertain Scotland in their penultimate fixture of this season’s SAFIB Centenary Shield campaign tomorrow afternoon in Athlone Town AFC at 1pm.
Head Coach Alan Murphy (St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway) enjoyed a four-nil win over Northern Ireland last week which sets them up nicely for the Scotland encounter.
De La Salle College, Waterford star Noah O’Brien netting a brace either side of the half as well as further goals from Merlin College’s Jack Sweeney and Ballyhaunis Community School pupil Ross Ruane Dalton ensured a successful afternoon at the Midlands venue.
Murphy has made three changes to the squad that featured well in their opening day with Robert KEANE (CBS The Green, Tralee) called in to replace Dan Costello (Marist College, Athlone), who is unavailable this week.
There are also recalls for Leinster duo Seán MURPHY (Naas CBS) and Luke CULLEN (Salesian College, Celbridge) who traveled to Wales at the start of the month. They missed out last week due to their involvement with the Irish Under 19s. Making way is Shay CASEY (St. Mary’s College, Dundalk) and Igor BACELA (Waterpark College, Waterford) who played their part in securing the win over Simon Nicks’ young side.
Ross Baird’s Scotland drew their opening game with Northern Ireland, one apiece. Rory Mackay fired Scotland into the lead late on only for Northern Ireland substitute Jacob Bond to clinch an equaliser at the death for a share of the spoils.
Scotland’s second game saw them defeated 2-5 at home to Wales last Wednesday afternoon.
A brace from Jack O’Rourke wasn’t enough to see them overcome a counter attacking Welsh outfit.
The Scots will be looking to bounce back from their latest performance.
It’s their final game in the series so they’ll be looking to impress away from home. Josh Beveridge and Ben Nelson are two recruits returning from last season, so their experience will be invaluable as they attempt to make a mark on proceedings.
Last season, a defensive error between Ireland’s centre half and the goalkeeper saw Jack Allan’s hard press rewarded when the ball rebounded to Josh BEVERIDGE to poke home from six yards out in the 25th minute of the game and that proved to be the crucial blow to Ireland’s Shield ambitions.
Scotland took all three points on offer in their 1-0 win over Ireland and went on to lift the Shield with a 6-2 thumping of England on the opening day as well as draws with Wales (1-1) and Scotland (3-3) in a really competitive campaign in 2025. Thursday’s outing will prove to be a physical test if the previous encounters are anything to go by.
Following Thursday’s clash, Northern Ireland take on the Welsh dragons in Belfast next Wednesday, April 8 while the Republic of Ireland travel to Llandudno FC for the rescheduled fixture against Wales on April 23 to wrap up the 2026 season.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS SELECT | Luke CULLEN (Salesian College, Celbridge), Declan PATTON, Eamonn MacBRIDE, Peter SWEENEY (all 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), Robert KEANE (CBS The Green, Tralee), Seán MURPHY (Naas CBS), Charlie CAMPBELL (St. Munchin’s College, Corbally), 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), Shane HALLIHAN (St. Colman’s College, Fermoy), Dylan McMENAMY (Holy Family Community School, Rathcoole), Ross RUANE DALTON (Ballyhaunis Community School)
MANAGEMENT | Alan MURPHY, Head Coach (St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway), Conor UHL, Coach (Skibbereen Community School), Oisín McMENAMIN Coach (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar), John POWER, GK Coach, Martin CAVANAGH, Kit Manager (Carndonagh Community School), Michael McGLYNN (Physio), Dr. Aidan O’COLMAIN (Team Doctor)
SCOTLAND | Paul Mitchell (Queen Anne HS), Jack O’Rourke (Greenfaulds HS), Dylan Ritchie (Craigmount HS), Ben Nelson (Bishopbrigg Academy), Mitchell Spence (Douglas Academy), Leo Easdon, Remo Margiotta (Turnbull HS), Robin Raine (Stirling BS), Sam Robinson (Johnstone HS), Rory MacKay, Connor Gray (Balfron HS), Kylan Hunter (Dumfries HS), Rory Campbell (Royal HS), Ellis Leighton (Elgin Academy), Josh Beveridge (Lasswade HS), Archie Beaton (Milburn Academy), Dylan Fullerton (Holyrood SS), Josh Proudfoot (Inverkeithing HS)
MANAGEMENT | Ross Baird, Manager, Fraser Murray, Assistant, Craig Spiers, GK Coach, Physio Cameron Logan
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)
Live stream of the game available at
LEAGUE TABLE
|
|
PLD |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
PTS |
|
Republic of Ireland |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
3 |
|
Wales |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
|
Scotland |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
6 |
1 |
|
Northern Ireland |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
