Two Galway Players in Republic of Ireland Squad for Centenary Shield Opener Away to Wales

THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS will kick start their 2026 SAFIB Centenary Shield campaign when they take on Wales on Thursday, March 12 in Llandudno FC (4G) (2.0) in the second of a six-match series.

The usual ten match campaign has been reduced to just six following the withdrawal of England from the 2026 Centenary Shield  

The competition saw holders Scotland and Northern Ireland draw one apiece yesterday afternoon in Airdrie FC. Rory MacKay (Balfron High School) fired the hosts into the lead late on, only for Northern Ireland substitute Bond to equalise in the final moments of the game. 

NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM

Alan MURPHY (St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway) has been appointed Head Coach of the Republic of Ireland Schools squad this season. He takes over from Derek O’BRIEN (Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore) following the completion of his tenure at the helm.

Joining Alan’s management staff will be coaches Conor UHL (Skibbereen Community School) and Oisín McMENAMIN (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar). Both lads have coached Schools Interprovincial teams over the years with their respective provinces and have excellent coaching credentials. McMenamin was a pupil in St. Eunan’s College when he won the Shield in 2008 playing with Ireland when Seán Carr (St. Columba’s College) was manager.  The experienced John POWER remains involved again, keeping his spot as Goalkeeping Coach.

Murphy has a stellar CV having completed his UEFA Pro-License and comes away from the Galway United management set-up to concentrate on the Schools International programme this season. Alan also played for the International Schools side for two years. The young Ballinrobe student scored against England when they played them at Ipswich Town in front of a crowd of 2,300 in 1999 and captained Ireland in 2000 in his second stint with the scholars. He was named the FAI International Schools Player of the Year that season too.

THE LAST OUTING

Welsh striker Osian MORRIS scored the only goal of the game in Graun Park, Tramore AFC when the sides last met.  It was a game that Ireland should have won given how creative they were in front of goal, but they just couldn’t convert their chances.

Murphy will be bolstered by the return of two Galway pupils as James MORAHAN (St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway) and Jack SWEENEY (Merlin College, Galway) make the cut for the eighteen-man squad to travel on Wednesday morning.

There is a good geographical spread of students with 3 players from Connacht, 4 from Ulster, 5 from Leinster and 6 from Munster. The students have been selected for international assessment following their participation in the Under 18 Boys’ Interprovincial Tournament in FAI HQ, Abottstown last November.

Following the Welsh fixture, the Republic of Ireland team will face off against Northern Ireland on Thursday, March 29 (1.0). While their final outing will be against Scotland a week later, Thursday, April 2 (1.0). Both home games will take place in Athlone Town AFC, and a live stream of these games will be available.

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), 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), Daniel COSTELLO (Marist College, Athlone), 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 (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar), John POWER, GK Coach, Michael McGLYNN (Physio), Dr. Aidan O’COLMAIN (Team Doctor)

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2026 SAFIB Centenary Shield Results & Fixtures

RESULT

Thursday, March 5            Scotland 1-1 Northern Ireland, Airdrie FC (1.0)

FIXTURES

Thursday, March 12          Wales vs Republic of Ireland, Llandudno FC (2.0)

Wednesday, March 25    Scotland vs Wales, Queen of the South, Dumfries (1.0)

Thursday, March 26         Republic of Ireland vs Northern Ireland, Athlone Town AFC (1.0)

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)

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SAFIB Centenary Shield Roll of Honour

* ROI joined CS series