Rianna reaches U-17 final
Spain seal title on penalties after tight battle
SHE’S WELL established at this stage as a Republic of Ireland senior international and a firstyear professional footballer with Brighton and Hove Albion, and Wexford’s Rianna Jarrett was already making waves in the sport ten years ago.
On June 26, 2010, the talented striker came on during extra-time when the girls in green picked up runners-up medals in the European Under-17 championship in Nyon, Switzerland, only losing to Spain after a penalty shoot-out.
A pair from the Tramore club – who were participating in the Wexford and District League at the time – featured in the starting line-up, with Jessica Gleeson and Ciara O’Brien lining out at centre-back and right-back respectively.
Spain enjoyed the better of possession throughout normal time and the additional period, but they were unable to break down a resilient Ireland side who chased and hassled for every ball and made life very difficult for their opponents.
Some chances were created all the same, but the Spanish netminder was in fabulous form, and it meant that penalties were required to determine the outcome.
Spain lifted the trophy on a 4-1 scoreline, with O’Brien scoring from the spot while Jarrett and Gleeson had the misfortune to see their efforts well saved.
While the outcome of the final was a big disappointment, it was still an incredible achievement by Rianna and her team-mates to get that far in such a prestigious competition.
Indeed, on the previous Tuesday they had pulled off one of the biggest shocks in European soccer by inflicting the first-ever defeat on Germany at competitive Under-17 level, beating them 1-0 in the semi-final.
That fantastic result ensured Ireland’s qualification for the Under-17 World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago in September of 2010, where they were included in a group with Brazil, Ghana and Canada.
After the high of competing in Switzerland, Jarrett had another important task to attend to shortly after returning to home soil.
She was still eligible for the Under-16 grade, and was part of the South Leinster squad that travelled to University of Limerick to participate in the annual Gaynor Cup competition, a big highlight on the domestic scene.
The North End United attacker was joined in that group by a number of fellow Wexford players, namely Shonagh Spratt-Murphy (Bree United), Fiona Bennett (Curracloe United), Katie White (Adamstown), AlisonTubritt (Duncannon), Aleisha Cullen (Curracloe United), Sheena Murphy (Duncannon), Nicole Fortune (Bunclody), Leona Breen (Ferns United), Lauren Sinnott (Adamstown) and Chloe Kenny (Bunclody).
The South Leinster Under-18 squad for the trip to Limerick included Niamh Murphy (Shelburne), Charlotte McCormack (Curracloe United), Laura Stafford (Killenagh Wanderers), Laura Donnelly (St. Joseph’s), Clara Donnelly (Curracloe United), Shauna Carley (Rosslare Rangers) and Michelle Darcy (St. Cormac’s).
And the Under-14 panel was also backboned by a strong Wexford contingent of Tamara Furlong (Ferns United), Sophie Donnelly (St. Joseph’s), Geraldine Doolan (Curracloe United), Ciara Rossiter (Forth Celtic), Amy Banville (Glen Celtic), Hayley Nolan (Ferns United), Noeleen Shanahan (Glen Celtic), Rita Davitt (Ferns United), Mary Tyrrell (Shelburne), Sinéad Ryan (Tombrack United), Sara Byrne (North End United) and Cliodhna Flynn (Curracloe United).