Maria selected for Ireland under-18 squad
ON the eve of the club’s inaugural ladies event, ‘No High Tackles, Just High Heels’, Dundalk RFC received more good news with Maria Smith’s selection for Ireland under-18s.
The speedy former athlete joins Caoimhe O’Callaghan and Nina Hjalmers on the international panel, further recognition for the sterling work being done at Mill Road.
The announcement capped a fine week for Maria, who was part of the St Vincent’s School team that won the North East X Sevens Qualifier at DKIT.
Having previously shone on the athletics track Maria has shown she is a rocket on the rugby pitch too where her phenomenal talent and speed has turned heads both at interprovincial level and now securing her first cap in the green jersey.
The Dundalk trio have been superb ambassadors for the ladies game in the North East and for their club and of course for their very proud parents John and Angela Smith, Fergus and Sinead O’Callaghan and Hjalkan and Sharon Hjalmers who have been hugely supportive of their daughter’s rugby journeys.
Having three players on an Ireland panel is also a huge testament to the work being done by Dundalk RFC coaches Dermot Lennon, Suzanne Flynn, Kevin Conway and Linda Valentine.
It is the sweetest of success to have three of their prodigies make their mark at such a high level.
All eyes are now on the sold out ‘No High Tackles, Just High Heels’ which will celebrate Dundalk RFC ladies and rememberthose in the rugby family who have lost the battle to breast cancer and those who continue the fight.
The event takes place thsi Saturday, March 14th at the Fairways Hotel.