Galway's Jack Sweeney Scores as Republic of Ireland Schools Beat England in Centenary Shield

Merlin College’s Jack Sweeney was among the goalscorers for the Republic of Ireland schools team in their 2-1 Centenary Shield success against England in Athlone on Thursday (24th April 2025).

St. Joseph’s trio James Morahan, Jacob Carroll and Billy Regan were also involved in their final game while the management team included Alan Murphy and Ollie Horgan.

==

Republic of Ireland 2-1 England

Adam Brennan (20), Jack Sweeney (42)    Ashton Houlahan (61)

THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS wrapped up their Centenary Shield series with a victory over England in Athlone Town AFC last night (Thursday, April 24).

Two first half goals from Hartstown Community School student Adam BRENNAN and Merlin College grad Jack SWEENEY were enough to see off Richard Alderson’s side. England did grab a goal back just after the hour mark courtesy of substitute Ashton HOULAHAN but the Irish always looked in command. 

Ireland made a positive start to proceedings as Summerhill College star Callum Lynch tested the England keeper with four minutes on the clock, but the tall shot-stopper got down well to smother the attempt on goal.

The Brennan-Sweeney combo was causing havoc as the deadly duo carved open the English defense on numerous occasions.

The opening goal came with quarter of an hour played with Matt Jones (St. Flannan’s College, Ennis) spraying the ball across field to Rhys Knight (Clonkeen College) at the back post.   He controlled it perfectly to play in Adam BRENNAN who smashed home from six yards out.

Brennan had the ball in the back of the net on 33 minutes but the goal was chalked off for off-side.

While seven minutes later England’s Luca Taylor had an audacious strike that came of the post and crossbar but managed to stay out!  

Ireland invaluably doubled their tally three minutes from the break with Jack SWEENEY poking home from close range after some brilliant work from Rhys Knight to get Callum Lynch on the ball, as the Sligo youngster rounded two defenders to turn supplier for Sweeney.   

Ireland could have extended their lead to three just before the interval when Adam Brennan rifled a shot that smashed off the woodwork in injury time.

Ireland took the two-goal cushion into half-time.

It was more of the same in the second period with Brennan playing in Sweeney for the latter to drag his effort agonisingly across the face of goal nine minutes in. 

England grabbed one back through second half substitute Ashton HOULAHAN on 61 minutes.

Jack Sweeney had another great opportunity to build on their lead, but his strike was cleared off the line with 15 minutes remaining while Brennan sliced the ball over the bar moments later as Ireland dominated. 

The Republic of Ireland managed the game out to claim another consecutive win as the series drew to a close.

A fitting win to end Head Coach Derek O’Brien’s seven-year tenure with the Ireland set-up as the Irish side played some wonderful football.

CHAMPIONS

Following Northern Ireland’s 0-3 victory over Wales last night in the other outing, the Welsh missed out on a share of the spoils as Scotland capture the title outright for 2025 with 8 points on the board.  Northern Ireland were second on 7 points while the Republic of Ireland finished third with six points.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

With a high calibre selection to choose from St. Flannan’s College, Ennis scholar Matt JONES was named POTM following his excellent contribution throughout the 90+ minutes. 

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS | Kyle GABBIDON (Coola Post Primary School, Sligo), Alain KIZENGA © (St. Mac Dara’s Community College, Templeogue), James MORAHAN (St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway), Adam NOLAN (Maynooth Community College), Daniel CUNNINGHAM (Coláiste na Carraige, Carrick, Donegal), Oisín KELLY (Ballyhaunis Community School), Rhys KNIGHT (Clonkeen College, Blackrock), Callum LYNCH (Summerhill College, Sligo), Matt JONES (St. Flannan’s College, Ennis), Adam BRENNAN (Hartstown Community School), Jack SWEENEY (Merlin College, Galway)

SUBS | Fionn McNAMARA (St. Patrick’s College, Cavan) for Lynch (61), Sam NEVILLE (Patrician Secondary School, Newbridge) for Knight (79),  Jacob CARROLL (St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway) for Morahan (79), Billy REGAN (St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway) for Kizenga (87),

UNUSED SUBS | MacDaragh SCANLON (St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway), Luke DOOLAN (St. Brendan’s College, Killarney), Aaron CASS (Abbey Community College, Ferrybank),

MANAGEMENT | Derek O’BRIEN, Head Coach (Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore), Alan MURPHY, Coach (St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway) Ollie HORGAN, Coach (St. Eunan’s College, Letterkenny), John POWER, GK Coach, Martin CAVANAGH Equipment Manager (Carndonagh Community School), Michael McGLYNN (Physio), Dr. Aidan O’COLMAIN (Team Doctor).

ENGLAND  | Joel Neale, Luke Jones, Charlie Matthews, Theo Ezea, Patrick McGowran, Jack Wallace, Joseph Kennedy, Alex Vick ©, Luca Taylor, Malachy Bowyer, Gilda Da Silva

SUBS | Ashton Houlahan, Riley Smith, Ryan Johnson, Luke Parker, George Lycett, Liam Higgins

MANAGEMENT | Richard Alderson, Matt Atherton, Matt George, Dave Burns

MATCH OFFICIAL | Eric Eaton (Mayo)

24 April 2025; The Republic of Ireland team before the Centenary Shield match between Republic of Ireland and England at Athlone Town Stadium in Lissywollen, Westmeath. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

2025 SAFIB Centenary Shield 

RESULTS

February 28        Scotland 6-2 England Greenock Morton (1.0)

March 14              Wales 1-1 Scotland, Airbus FC (1.0)

March 14              England 0-2 Northern Ireland, Truro (7.3)

March 20             Republic of Ireland 0-1 Wales, Graun Park, Tramore (1.0)

March 27             Scotland 1-0 Republic of Ireland, Stenhousemuir (1.0)

April 4                  Northern Ireland 3-3 Scotland, Blanchflower Stadium (7.0)

April 11                  England 2-2 Wales, Macclesfield (7.0)

April 11                  Northern Ireland 2-6 Republic of Ireland, Blanchflower Stadium (7.0)

April 24                Wales 0-3 Northern Ireland, Briton Ferry FC (7.0)

April 24                Republic of Ireland 2-1 England, Athlone Town AFC (7.0)

2025 SAFIB Centenary Shield Table

Centenary Shield Roll of Honour

* ROI joined CS series