Three Donegal players started for the Republic of Ireland vs Australia in the Under-18 Boys Schools International Friendly Match played at Home Farm FC.
Carndonagh Community School’s Oisin Cooney was in goal, while Scoil Muire, Buncrana’s Darragh Coyle and James McAteer, a pupil from Milford’s Loreto Community School, also lined up for the Boys in Green. . Consecutive goals in the first half were enough for Australia to emerge victorious with a 2-1 scoreline.
Australia got off to a lively start, with Cristian Mladenis coming close to scoring in the first 15 minutes and Noah Maieroni almost scoring at the far post. They were quintessentially Australian, pushing forward at every opportunity. The breakthrough came in the 23rd minute when Lachlan Middleton fired a powerful shot into the top corner of the goal.
Three minutes later, the score was doubled when Noel Maironi darted out with a brilliant finish past Cooney. There were a lot of substitutions during the interval and the resurgent Irish team did an even better job in the second period. Evan, who shares the same name as Robbie Lynch, was prominent in the accusations against Derek O’Brien.
Ireland had a decisive goal midway through the first half from super-sub Callum Costello following Hugh Parker’s first shot. Rhys Kelly Noonan had a great chance to equalize in the 78th minute, but the ball just missed the far post.
With four minutes remaining, captain Dire Patton came very close to hitting a shot on target, but it wasn’t.
The Republic of Ireland will now turn its attention to the SAFIB Centenary Shield Series, with Derek O’Brien’s side hosting Scotland at Athlone Town AFC on Thursday 29th February. A week later, on Thursday, Northern Ireland travel to Athlone. March 7th. The team will then travel to Walsall FC to take on England on Friday 5th April. Meanwhile, the campaign concludes on Thursday 18th April at Britton Ferry Ranthawell FC, where Wales will provide entertainment.
Republic of Ireland schools: Oisin Cooney (Carndonagh Community School), Darragh Coyle (Scoil Mhuire, Bancrana), Kyle McDonagh (St. Attracta’s Community School, Tubbercurry), Tom McLoughlin (Malahide Community School), Robbie Lynch (Hazelwood College, Dromcollogher) , James McAteer (Milford, Loreto Community School), Adam O’Halloran (Athenry, Clarin College), Dia Patton (Sligo, Summerhill College), Hugh Parker (Greystones, Temple Carrig School) , Aidan Russell Vargas (Rusk Community College) and Callum Doyle Travers (St Fintan’s High School, Sutton).
Subs used: Edvinus Jacas (Lucan Community College) Cooney (half-time), Sean McKee (Colaiste Chiarain, Leeklip) McLoughlin (Ht), Kyle Donoghue (Kildare Town Community School) Doyle. Travers (half-time), Kelly Noonan (Colaiste Muire, Crosshaven) for Rhys O’Halloran (half-time), Callum Honohan (Edmund Rice University, Carrigaline) for McAteer (half-time), Coyle ( HT) for Evan Lynch (Christian Brothers College, Cork) and Russell Vargas (61) for Callum Costello (Comera College, Carrick-on-Suir).
Australia: Sebastian Arranz (Marist College), Lachlan Middleton (NBSC Freshwater Senior Campus), Owen Henderson (Hills Sports High School), Jordan Rezek (St Mary MacKillop College), Reece McManus (Hunter Sports High School), Noah Maieroni (Kelvin Grove State University), Jack Elwood (Ellindale College), Adrian Pini (Bosley Park High School), Luka Strabach (Bosley Park High School), Christian Mladenis (King’s Christian College), Archie McGregor ( Erindale College)
Subs: Bodie Denton (Barker College) Alanz (Montana), Tate Baldwin (Palm Beach Currumbin State High School) Strabach (Montana), Jared Middleton (NBSC Freshwater Senior Campus) Pini (Montana) , David Russell (Robina State High School) McGregor (61), Oscar Myers (Palm Beach Currumbin State High School) Rezek (68), Jacob Carre (Varna Coast High School) Mulla Dennis (68), Samuel O’Connor ( Freeman Catholic College, Green Valley) for Maieroni (82).