Carrigaline Community School ace Aaron Drinan got the Irish scholars off to the perfect start with a goal inside six minutes with a splendid 35 yard screamer that curled past Roberts in goal.
Aaron’s second of the night came courtesy of some great play from Raphoe’s Billy Banda as he slipped the ball into the path of Eoghan Morgan. The Mount Temple student hit the by-line and squared the ball to the impressive Drinan who made no mistake in front of goal. Two up with 36 minutes played.
The Irish were unfortunate that they didn’t extend their goal tally four minutes from the interval as Captain Jamie Aherne just couldn’t connect with Drinan’s rebounded shot on goal.
Paddy O’Reilly made a number of substitutions in the second half which saw Davitt College pupil Fintan Borotto make his International debut as Billy Banda made way.
Confey College starlet Aherne was lively throughout the first half and kept this momentum going as he forced Roberts into a smart save four minutes into the restart.
The Irish Captain finally got on the scoresheet with a converted penalty on 55 minutes ensuring the tie was out of Welsh reach.
The Irish were in total control in the latter stages as the Welsh were restricted to shots from range. A great finish to the Republic of Ireland Centenary Shield campaign which saw O’Reilly maintain his unbeaten record in this competition.
Republic of Ireland: Coffey (Chambers 73), Morgan, Kane, Scales, McCarthy, Hanney, G Doherty (A Delap 65), Drinan, K Doherty (Brouder h-t), Banda (Borotto 60), Aherne.
Wales: Roberts, Nash, Davies, K Jones (Kilburn h-t), Pratt, Woods, Maksimovic (Touray 75), S Jones (Woods h-t), A Jones (Lovett 85), Bibby, Boyles (Edwards 79).