{"id":408286,"date":"2026-04-20T13:33:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T13:33:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/408286\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T13:33:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T13:33:08","slug":"two-galway-students-aiming-to-help-ireland-in-title-contender-away-to-wales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/408286\/","title":{"rendered":"Two Galway Students Aiming to Help Ireland in Title Contender Away to Wales"},"content":{"rendered":"

THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS will finish their 2026 SAFIB Centenary Shield campaign when they take on Wales this Thursday, April 23 in\u00a0Llandudno FC (4G)\u00a0in the last of the six-match series.<\/p>\n

What should have been Ireland\u2019s first fixture this season was postponed due to high winds in Llandudno on March 12. As it transpires, it will be a winner-takes-all battle in the Welsh coastal town.<\/p>\n

The Republic of Ireland opened their account with a solid 4-0 victory over Northern Ireland in Athlone at the end of last month courtesy of a brace from Noah O\u2019BRIEN either side of the half while Jack SWEENEY and Ross RUANE DALTON also converted brilliantly.<\/p>\n

Alan Murphy\u2019s side followed this up with a hard fought 2-1 win over Scotland in the same venue at the start of April. An OG at the stroke of half time for the hosts cancelled Archie Beaton\u2019s strike nine minutes in to leave it all square at the break.<\/p>\n

Substitute Robert KEANE came off the bench to snatch the match-winner eight minutes from time for Ireland.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile Wales have converted nine goals in two games with victories away to Scotland (2-5) and Northern Ireland (2-4) which leaves them in prime position alongside Alan Murphy\u2019s crew. Crucially the Welsh Dragons will have home advantage for this crunch encounter.<\/p>\n

Wales last won the SAFIB Centenary Shield in 2023, sharing the title with England while they won the competition outright in 2022. Marc Llyod Williams will want his team to return to winning ways with victory in their final outing of the 2026 campaign.<\/p>\n

You must go all the way back to 2018 when the Republic of Ireland last clinched the title with William O\u2019CONNOR (Balbriggan Community College) claiming the title in his debut season.<\/p>\n

Can Alan Murphy (St. Joseph\u2019s Patrician College, Galway) replicate such success on Thursday with his current crop of young starlets?<\/p>\n

Murphy will stick with the same squad that featured against Scotland. Robert KEANE (CBS The Green, Tralee) keeps his spot in the squad following his fabulous debut against Scotland.<\/p>\n

Also retained are Under 19 International duo Luke CULLEN (Salesian College, Celbridge) and Se\u00e1n MURPHY (Naas CBS).<\/p>\n

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS SELECT\u00a0| Shane HALLIHAN\u00a0(St. Colman\u2019s College, Fermoy),\u00a0Declan PATTON\u00a0(St. Columba\u2019s College, Stranorlar),\u00a0Rowan McGROARTY\u00a0(Loreto Community School, Milford),James MORAHAN\u00a0(St. Joseph\u2019s Patrician College, Galway),\u00a0Noah O\u2019BRIEN\u00a0(De La Salle College, Waterford),\u00a0Conor O\u2019NEILL\u00a0(Blackrock College, Dublin),\u00a0\u00a0Jack SWEENEY\u00a0(Merlin College, Galway),\u00a0Jack GARRETT, (The Abbey School, Tipperary Town),\u00a0Rory McKEON\u00a0(St. Anne\u2019s Community College, Killaloe),\u00a0Charlie CAMPBELL\u00a0(St. Munchin\u2019s College, Corbally),\u00a0Eamonn MacBRIDE\u00a0(St. Columba\u2019s College, Stranorlar),\u00a0Peter SWEENEY\u00a0(St. Columba\u2019s College, Stranorlar),\u00a0Mason MURPHY\u00a0(St. Paul\u2019s Community College, Waterford),\u00a0Luke CULLEN\u00a0(Salesian College, Celbridge),\u00a0Robert KEANE\u00a0(CBS The Green, Tralee),\u00a0Ross RUANE DALTON\u00a0(Ballyhaunis Community School),\u00a0Dylan McMENAMY\u00a0(Holy Family Community School, Rathcoole),\u00a0Se\u00e1n MURPHY\u00a0(Naas CBS)<\/p>\n

MANAGEMENT |\u00a0Alan\u00a0MURPHY,\u00a0Head Coach (St. Joseph\u2019s Patrician College, Galway) Conor\u00a0UHL, Coach (Skibbereen Community School), Ois\u00edn\u00a0McMENAMIN\u00a0(St. Columba\u2019s College, Stranorlar), John\u00a0POWER, GK Coach, Martin\u00a0CAVANAGH,\u00a0Equipment Manager (Carndonagh Community School), Michael\u00a0McGLYNN\u00a0(Physio), Dr. Aidan\u00a0O\u2019COLMAIN\u00a0(Team Doctor)<\/p>\n

==<\/p>\n

2026 SAFIB Centenary Shield Results & Fixtures<\/p>\n

RESULTS<\/p>\n

Thursday, March 5 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Scotland\u00a01-1\u00a0Northern Ireland, Airdrie FC (1.0)<\/p>\n

Thursday, March 12 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Wales\u00a0P-P\u00a0Republic of Ireland, Llandudno FC (2.0)<\/p>\n

Wednesday, March 25 \u00a0\u00a0 Scotland\u00a02-5\u00a0Wales, Queen of the South, Dumfries (1.0)<\/p>\n

Thursday, March 26 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Republic of Ireland\u00a04-0\u00a0Northern Ireland, Athlone Town AFC (1.0)<\/p>\n

Thursday, April 2 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Republic of Ireland\u00a02-1\u00a0Scotland, Athlone Town AFC (1.0)<\/p>\n

Wednesday, April 8 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Northern Ireland\u00a02-4\u00a0Wales, Harland & Wolffe Welders (7.0)<\/p>\n

FIXTURES<\/p>\n

Thursday, April 23\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Wales vs\u00a0Republic of Ireland, Llandudno FC (1.0)<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

PLAYER OF THE MATCH<\/p>\n

POTM vs Northern Ireland\u00a0Noah O\u2019BRIEN\u00a0(De La Salle College, Waterford)<\/p>\n

POTM vs Scotland\u00a0Rowan McGROARTY\u00a0(Loreto Community School, Milford)<\/p>\n

==<\/p>\n

SAFIB Centenary Shield Roll of Honour<\/p>\n

YEAR
\nWINNER<\/p>\n

2025
\nScotland<\/p>\n

2024
\nNorthern Ireland<\/p>\n

2023
\nWales & England<\/p>\n

2022
\nWales<\/p>\n

2021
\nCOVID-19<\/p>\n

2020
\nCOVID-19<\/p>\n

2019
\nNorthern Ireland<\/p>\n

2018
\nRepublic of Ireland<\/p>\n

2017
\nNorthern Ireland & England<\/p>\n

2016
\nEngland<\/p>\n

2015
\nRepublic of Ireland<\/p>\n

2014
\nEngland<\/p>\n

2013
\nNorthern Ireland<\/p>\n

2012
\nEngland<\/p>\n

2011
\nScotland & Northern Ireland<\/p>\n

2010
\nRepublic of Ireland<\/p>\n

2009
\nEngland & Northern Ireland<\/p>\n

2008
\nRepublic of Ireland<\/p>\n

2007
\nEngland<\/p>\n

2006
\nEngland<\/p>\n

2005
\nRepublic of Ireland & Northern Ireland<\/p>\n

2004
\nRepublic of Ireland<\/p>\n

2003*
\nRepublic of Ireland<\/p>\n

2002
\nEngland<\/p>\n

2001
\nEngland & Scotland<\/p>\n

2000
\nScotland<\/p>\n

1999
\nNorthern Ireland<\/p>\n

1998
\nNorthern Ireland<\/p>\n

1997
\nEngland<\/p>\n

1996
\nNorthern Ireland<\/p>\n

1995
\nSwiss FA<\/p>\n

1994
\nEngland<\/p>\n

1993
\nEngland<\/p>\n

1992
\nSwiss FA & England<\/p>\n

1991
\nSwiss FA<\/p>\n

1990
\nSwiss FA<\/p>\n

1989
\nEngland<\/p>\n

1988
\nEngland<\/p>\n

1987
\nEngland<\/p>\n

1986
\nEngland<\/p>\n

1985
\nEngland<\/p>\n

1984
\nEngland<\/p>\n

1983
\nScotland<\/p>\n

1982
\nEngland<\/p>\n

1981
\nWales<\/p>\n

1980
\nEngland<\/p>\n

1979
\nScotland<\/p>\n

1978
\nScotland<\/p>\n

1977
\nWales<\/p>\n

1976
\nScotland & England<\/p>\n

1975
\nWales<\/p>\n

1974
\nEngland<\/p>\n

1973
\nEngland & Scotland<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS will finish their 2026 SAFIB Centenary Shield campaign when they take on Wales…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":408287,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[61,60,43,179504],"class_list":["post-408286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ireland","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-news","tag-two-galway-students-aiming-to-help-ireland-in-title-contender-away-to-wales"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/408286","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=408286"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/408286\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/408287"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=408286"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=408286"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=408286"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}