WOMEN MAKE IT A REBEL TREBLE
CORK CITY’S women completed a first FAI Cup double yesterday and their 1-0 victory over UCD Waves represented a victory that they simply couldn’t have dreamed about three years ago.
They only formed a women’s team back in 2011 and in 2013-’14 not only did they fail to pick up a single point in the national league but they conceded a whopping 109 goals.
Clare Shine’s first-half strike made history in a game which also showcased the multi-talented Saoirse Noonan up front. Fans of ladies Gaelic football are already well familiar with Noonan.
She scored 3-4 in the All-Ireland minor final against Galway this summer when she led the Rebelettes to a three-in-a-row and she also scored 2-5 against Dublin in last year’s minor GAA decider.
But soccer is her first love and the 18-year-old Leaving Cert student at Christ King in Douglas is already starring for the Irish U-19 team and is the reigning FAI U-17 Women’s Player of the Year.
Noonan often gets a 7am bus to Dublin for international soccer training and doesn’t get home until 10pm.
As Ireland’s U-19s girls have already bagged their place in UEFA’s elite round, she’s one to watch out for. asked about it on RTÉ Radio 1’s Saturday Sport, saying “on our side we are delighted that it was David.”
He stressed: “You have to feel for Stephen but he has won Sam. He lifted Sam, he will be OK.”
It was a fair point, especially given that Cluxton has always personally eschewed the limelight and is the ultimate team player. Most players would swap an AllStar for an All-Ireland medal in a heartbeat.