Rianna gets the call

RIANNA JARRETT’S strong early-season form has been rewarded with a recall to the Republic of Ireland Senior women’s soccer squad for a friendly in Italy on Tuesday, April 9. The lack of any Wexford representation in recent selections by manager Colin Bell has been a big talking point locally, but Jarrett simply couldn’t be overlooked now that she is free from injury.

‘It’s good to have Rianna coming back in, she’s in good form for Wexford, and we’ll be looking forward to seeing how she’s recovered after a long injury, and to looking at her fitness and just to get her back into the frame,’ Bell said.

The 20-player squad met up yesterday (Monday) for a four-day Irish-based camp, and they will travel to Italy on Friday. The match will take place in Reggio Emilia on April 9 at 5.30 p.m. Irish time.

Meanwhile, Jarrett’s clubmate Aoife Slattery is one of six defenders chosen on manager Dave Connell’s 20-strong Under-19 international squad whose European elite round games against Hungary, Serbia and Spain will be played in Spain on Wednesday, Saturday and next Tuesday respectively.

And another Wexford player, Blessing Kingsley, experienced the joy of scoring the winning goal for her country in Scotland recently when the Under-17 team beat the hosts 1-0 to finish second in their elite round qualifying group, advancing to the next stage as a result.

The excellent progress of Enniscorthy’s Festy Ebosele also continues, as the Derby County clubman played in the first 68 minutes for the Republic of Ireland Under-19 side in their 2-0 win over hosts Russia in Krasnodar.

It saw them end their campaign with a magnificent six wins from six, leaving them as the only country with such a superb record ahead of the tournament finals which are down for decision in Armenia in July.