Victory Shield kicks off in the Kingdom

AMID great excitement and colour the 73rd Victory Shield competition was formally opened at Mounthawk Park on Monday afternoon.

Defending champions, the Republic of Ireland, are competing with Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland for the title, with matches at three venues in Tralee taking place this week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Republic of Ireland 1 Northern Ireland 3

THE full house signs were up early at Mounthawk Park on Monday evening for the eagerly awaited clash of The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland where a win for either side would see them going to the top of the league table.

After a scoreless first half a late flurry of goals gave the visitors a deserved victory at the end.

Northern Ireland bossed the game for the opening 20 minutes but The Republic got back into the game as the half progressed and had two very good chances to take the lead.

The first came in the 19th minute when a shot from Oliver O Neill skimmed the crossbar, and the ROI were most unfortunate not to score in the 25th minute when Ben McCormack’s shot came off the inside of the post and back into play.

Northern Ireland went ahead in the 62nd minute when Sean Stewart spotted the run of Ross McCausland just outside the area and he unleashed a ferocious low shot into the bottom corner of the net.

The home side was back on level terms two minutes later when sub Colin Conroy played in Oliver O’Neill and he applied a great finish.

Entering the final ten minutes both managers used their benches but Northern Ireland carried the bigger threat and they took the lead in the 76th minute when Conor Bradley set up sub Ciaran McGuckin and he scored from close range.

They polished off the game three minutes later when their captain Conor Bradley threaded the ball into the box to Sean Stewart and he found the net from a tight angle.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Josh Keely, Gavin O’Brien, Ronan Kilkenny (Colin Conroy 70), Oisin Hand, CJ Egan-Reilly, Ben McCormack, Louie Barry, Adam Wells, Oliver O’Neill (Sinclair Armstrong 70), Oran Crowe (Kallin Barlow 52), Lee Harkin (Billy Vance 52). NORTHERN IRELAND: Connor Byrne, Sean Stewart, Aaron Donnelly, Lewis McKinnon, Orrin McLaughlin, Conor Bradley, Charlie Allen, Dale Taylor (Ciaran McGuckin 70), Euen Williams

(Caolan McBride 62), Ross McCausland, Vicky Saldanmo

(Sean McAllister 70).

REFEREE: Derek O’Shea

ASSISTANTS: Anthony Morrison, Adrian O’Shea, Ray Matthews

IN the opening game of the tournament at

Christy Leahy Park on Monday afternoon, Wales and Scotland draw 1-1. Matthew Baker scored for Wales after 11 minutes and Jaden Ferguson equalised for Scotland in the 50th minute. Wales missed a penalty kick late in the game.

THE Republic of Ireland now have to win their game this afternoon (Wednesday) against Wales to have a chance of retaining their title. This game will be played at Mounthawk Park with a 1pm kick off time. Northern Ireland play Scotland at 6pm on Wednesday, also at Mounthawk Park. The tournament concludes on Friday with the Republic playing Scotland in Tralee Dynamos pitch at 1pm, with Wales facing Northern Ireland at 1.05pm in Mounthawk Park.