Published: Wednesday, 5th May, 2010 5:00pm

Benson hits winner as Ireland defeat England to win Centenary Shield

ATHLONE Town star Robbie Benson produced heroics for the Irish Schools' team against England last Friday, netting the all-important winner that ensured Ireland won the 2010 Centenary Shield.

Benson, 17, netted the only goal of the game as Ireland Schools' beat England 1-0 in Burton to secure the 2010 Centenary Shield title.

Just days earlier, the Athlone Town midfielder also received more great news, after achieving a call-up to the Ireland Under-18 squad for two friendlies against Macedonia next week.

However, Benson has now withdrawn from the squad due to exam commitments.

Benson's exploits with Athlone Town, for whom he's become integral since breaking into the first-team last season, and with the Ireland Schools' side, had alerted Ireland under-18 manager Sean McCaffrey to his undoubted ability. And his call-up to the main Ireland under-18 squad remains further indication of the continuing development of the former St Francis schoolboy player.

At home in midfield or up front, Benson was expected to feature for Ireland under-18s during next week's double-header against Macedonia in Ohrid on May 11 and 13, but the length of stay in Macedonia has prompted the Athlone player to forfeit the trip in preference of his study commitments.

Benson was to be among eight home-based players selected by McCaffrey for the friendlies, which act as the beginning of preparations for the 2010/11 Under-19 European Championship, which kicks-off for Ireland in October when they take on Serbia, Luxembourg and mini-group hosts Bulgaria in the first phase of the qualifying series.

Benson's stock continued to rise last Friday evening when he netted the only goal in a must-win match for Ireland Schools' against England in Burton, a game televised live on Sky Sports 4.

Representing the Marist College, Athlone, at schools' level, Benson combined well with Gary Shaw and Sean Skelly - younger brother of fellow Athlone Town player Austin Skelly - in the 77th minute, before turning inside his marker beautifully, and stroking a sweetly struck effort past the England goalkeeper.

Nothing less than victory was required for Ireland to take the Centenary Shield title, with England only a point away from capturing the crown.

Speaking after Benson's exploits, Athlone manager Brendan Place admitted it will now be even more difficult for the club to hang onto Benson's services.

"Firstly, I'd like to congratulate Robbie Benson on his winning goal against England, and I think it shows what a good player he is that we badly missed him, at just 17 years of age, against Wexford Youths last Friday. I'd obviously love to keep Robbie at the club until the end of the current season, but that's going to be more and more difficult to do. I believe Robbie has ambitions to play at the highest level possible, and there's no reason why someone with his ability and attitude can't achieve very high standards," said Place.

Fellow Athlone Town midfielder Tom O'Halloran, representing Athlone Community College, was also in the schools' squad, but didn't get any game-time during last Friday's win over England.