A brace of first half goals was enough to see Australia claim the bragging rights in this bruising encounter in Home Farm FC, Whitehall this afternoon (January 20).

The Irish were dealt a blow with the late withdrawal of Brian Cunningham (Presentation College, Headford) due to injury. The Galway youngster featured in last year’s contest and his 90th minute heroics saw the hosts snatch a 2-1 victory at the death.

It was the other way around this afternoon with the Irish slumping to defeat as the physicality of the visitors ensured a dominant display in the first forty five as Ireland had no response.

The Aussies made a lively start to proceedings as Christian Mladenis came close while Noah Maieroni nearly snuck in at the far post with quarter of an hour played.

It was all Australia as they drove forward at every opportunity. The breakthrough came 23 minutes in when Lachlan Middleton rattled the top corner with a smashing strike on target.

Their tally was doubled three minutes later when Noel Maieroni pounced with a delightful finish to slot past Oisin Cooney.

It took Ireland awhile to settle and it wasn’t until after the half hour mark when the hosts had their first attempt on goal as Aidan Russell Vargas (Lusk CC) saw his shot blocked on the six yard line.

The industrious Mladenis could have grabbed a third for Australia on 37 minutes but the woodwork came to the Irish rescue.

Australia went in two ahead at the break.

There was a platter of substitutions during the interval and a resurged Irish side made better work in the second period. Robbie Lynch and namesake Evan were outstanding for Derek O’Brien’s charges.

Ireland netted midway through the half as super sub Calum Costello of Comeragh College struck decisively following Hugh Parker’s initial effort.

Rhys Kelly Noonan had a gilt edged chance to equalise on 78 minutes but the ball skimmed past the far post.

With four minutes remaining, Captain Daire Patton (Summerhill College, Sligo) came agonisingly close to having his shot on target but it wasn’t to be.

A frustrating afternoon for the Irish scholars as they just couldn’t convert in added time.

A second win on the bounce for Australia as they defeated the Welsh Schools FA on Thursday night (1-2) following opening loses to English Independent Schools and the Welsh Colleges.

The Australian’s will travel to Belfast tonight to take on Northern Ireland on Monday afternoon. Their tour continues with games against Scottish Schools FA and Celtic FC later in the week. The climax for the squad will be a new addition to the tour calendar with a hotly anticipated outing in Rotterdam when they take on Feyenoord.

While the Republic of Ireland will now turn their attention to the SAFIB Centenary Shield series which will see Derek O’Brien’s side welcome Scotland to Athlone Town AFC on Thursday, February 29. A week later sees Northern Ireland make the short trip to Athlone on Thursday, March 7. The squad will then travel to Walsall FC to take on England on Friday, April 5 while the campaign will wrap up in Briton Ferry Llansawel FC as Wales provide the entertainment on Thursday, April 18.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS | Oisin COONEY (Carndonagh Community School), Darragh COYLE (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Kyle McDONAGH (St. Attracta’s Community School, Tubbercurry), Tom McLOUGHLIN (Malahide Community School), Robbie LYNCH (Hazelwood College, Dromcollogher), James McATEER (Loreto Community School, Milford), Adam O’HALLORAN (Clarin College, Athenry), Daire PATTON © (Summerhill College, Sligo), Hugh PARKER (Temple Carrig School, Greystones), Aidan RUSSELL VARGAS (Lusk Community College), Callum DOYLE TRAVERS (St. Fintan’s High School, Sutton)

SUBS USED | Edvinas JAKAS (Lucan Community College) for Cooney (HT), Sean MACKEY (Coláiste Chiarain, Leixlip) for McLoughlin (HT), Kyle DONOGHUE (Kildare Town Community School) for Doyle Travers (HT), Rhys KELLY NOONAN (Coláiste Mhuire, Crosshaven) for O’Halloran (HT), Callum HONOHAN (Edmund Rice College, Carrigaline) for McAteer (HT), Evan LYNCH (Christian Brothers College, Cork) for Coyle (HT), Calum COSTELLO (Comeragh College, Carrick on Suir) for Russell Vargas (61)

EXTENDED PANEL | Jack AHERN (Ardscoil na Mara, Tramore), Markuss STRODS (St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Rush), Rory MOLONEY (Presentation Brothers College, Cork), Luke DOWNEY (Glanmire Community College), Sam BAILEY (Clonakilty Community College)

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)

AUSTRALIA | Sebastian ARRANZ (Marist College), Lachlan MIDDLETON (NBSC Freshwater Senior Campus), Owen HENDERSON © (The Hills Sports High School), Jordan REZEK (St. Mary Mackillop College), Reece McMANUS (Hunter Sports High School), Noah MAIERONI (Kelvin Grove state College), Jack ELLWOOD (Erindale College), Adrian PINI (Bossley Park High School), Luka STRABAC (Bossley Park High School), Christian MLADENIS (Kings Christian College), Archie McGREGOR (Erindale College)

SUBS | Bodie DENTON (Barker College) for Arranz (HT), Tate BALDWIN (Palm Beach Currumbin State High School) for Strabac (HT), Jared MIDDLETON (NBSC Freshwater Senior Campus) for Pini (HT), David RUSSELL (Robina State High School) for McGregor (61), Oscar MYERS (Palm Beach Currumbin State High School) for Rezek (68), Jacob CARRE (Ballna Coast High School) for Mladenis (68), Samuel O’CONNOR (Freeman Catholic College, Green Valley) for Maieroni (82)

MANAGEMENT | Scott BELDRE, Coach (Ingleburn High School), Peter HENDERSON, Manager (Blaxland High School), Tony OLIVERIA, Tour Leader (Radford College)

MATCH OFFICIAL | Liam Byrne (Dublin)