The young Lionesses were on the front foot immediately with Poppy Prichard popping up to convert after just four minutes of play.
However their advantage didn’t last long as Ellie Long got on the end of an Eve O’Brien (Woodbrook College, Bray) free-kick to slot in at the back post for the equaliser on 16-minutes.
It was all square at the interval.
Again, the Irish were slow to restart and England commanded possession in the early exchanges and were duly rewarded with a goal inside the first seven minutes when Rebecca Ferguson’s rocket found the top corner of Keenan’s net.
Berkeley’s charges were a little off the pace but Carndonagh scholar Ellie Long was unfortunate not to double her tally late on.
The English held out for their first win since 2016 in this annual fixture so it was bittersweet for new Manager Sian Lingham to snatch an away win which will set them up nicely for the Bob Docherty Cup next month.
POTM
Captain Jessie Stapleton (Palmerstown CS), Ellie Long (Carndonagh CS) and Jodie Griffin (Ardscoil Mhuire, Corbally) all impressed when called upon but the Player of the Match accolade went to the tenacious and conscientious Abbie Larkin of Ringsend College, Dublin.
Bob Docherty Cup
Defending Champions the Republic of Ireland will meet a Midlands West select in their opening match of the International series which is set to take place on Wednesday, April 15 in Lilleshall National Sports Centre in Shropshire.
Following this, their penultimate outing will see them face 2017 Champions Wales in a must win tie on Thursday afternoon.
Their third game will depend on the results of the previous two rounds but Berkeley will be hoping that his side will be in the hunt for top spot on Friday morning.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND | Summer LAWLESS (Ballymakenny College, Drogheda), Liadan CLYNCH (Bush Post Primary School, Dundalk), Kate THOMPSON (Coláiste Iognáid, Galway), Aoibhe FLEMING (Lucan Community College), Jessie STAPLETON © (Palmerstown Community School), Eve O’BRIEN (Woodbrook College, Bray), Katie LAW (Presentation Secondary School, Wexford), Abbie LARKIN (Ringsend College), Orlaith O’MAHONY (St. Farnan’s Post Primary School, Prosperous), Ellie LONG (Carndonagh Community School), Grace FLANAGAN (Presentation Secondary School, Thurles),
SUBS USED | Aoife KELLY (Presentation College, Carlow) for Thompson (26), Claudia KEENAN (Ardscoil Rathagan) for Lawless (HT), Tara O’HANLON (Castleknock Community College) for Law (HT), Heidi O'SULLIVAN (Regina Mundi College, Cork) for O’Brien (HT), Jodie GRIFFIN (Ardscoil Mhuire, Corbally) for Flanagan (58), Rola OLUSOLA (Merlin College, Galway) for Larkin (60), Ellie O'BRIEN (Scoil Muire gan Smál, Blarney) for Clynch (60).
MANAGEMENT | Head Coach Richard BERKELEY (Sancta Maria College, Louisburgh), Coach Emma MULLIN, Coach Katie McCARTHY (St. Colman’s Community College, Midleton), GK Coach Scott GAYNOR (Presentation SS, Wexford), Performance Analyst Molly CASSIDY, Kit Person Karen HENRY (Mulroy College, Milford), Physio Aoife BURKE
ENGLAND | Sophia Poor, Rebecca Ferguson, Mikayla Wildgoose ©, Niamh O’Neill, Kate Oakley, Macey Bannerman Lloyd, Poppy Pritchard, Gemma Whitchurch, Lucy Cooper, Leonie Telford, Megan Sofield
SUBS USED | Oliva Lowe, Ellie Elkins, Isabella Wade, Delphi Cole, Aimee Flood
MANAGEMENT | Sian Lingham (Manager), Adam Jones (Assistant Manager), David Ebberson (GK Coach), Matt Roach (Physio), Angela Emery (International Programme Co-ordinator)
MATCH OFFICIAL | Katie Hall