Ballinrobe native Alan Murphy is Republic of Ireland head coach for the SAFIB Centenary Shield this year, and he has one player from his native county in the squad.

Mayo schoolboy in Republic of Ireland squad for Centenary Shield

Published: Fri 6 Mar 2026, 9:24 PM

Last updated: Fri 6 Mar 2026, 9:33 PM

For the second year running a Ballyhaunis Community School pupil is in the Republic of Ireland squad for the SAFIB Centenary Shield campaign.

Last year Oisín Kelly wore his country's colours in the competition and this year it's the turn of his Sligo Rovers Under 20s team-mate Ross Ruane Dalton as the 2026 campaign opens for the Republic of Ireland Schools away to Wales on Thursday, March 12, at Llandudno FC (2 p.m.) in the second of a six-match series.

The usual 10-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 (Thursday) in Airdrie FC.

Meanwhile, Ballinrobe native Alan Murphy of 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 of Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore, following the completion of his tenure at the helm.

Joining Alan’s management staff are 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, meanwhile, has a stellar CV. Having completed his UEFA Pro-License, he comes away from the Galway United management set-up to concentrate on the schools' international programme this season.

Alan played for the international schools' side for two years. As a student, he 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.

There is a good geographical spread of students in Murphy's squad, with three players from Connacht, four from Ulster, five from Leinster and six from Munster.

Joining Ruane Dalton from Connacht are two Galway pupils – James Morahan (St. Joseph’s Patrician College, Galway) and Jack Sweeney (Merlin College, Galway) – both of whom were in the squad last year.

All students were selected for international assessment following their participation in the Under 18 Boys’ Interprovincial Tournament in the FAI headquarters at Abottstown, Dublin, last November.

Following the Welsh fixture, the Republic of Ireland team will face off against Northern Ireland on Thursday, March 29 (1 p.m.) and take on Scotland a week later on Thursday, April 2 (also 1 p.m.). Both home games will take place in Athlone Town AFC, and a live stream of these games will be available.

The other fixtures are Scotland v Wales on Wednesday, March 25, and Northern Ireland v Wales on Wednesday, April 8.