Schoolgirls head for Gaynor Cup

WITH the Kennedy Cup 2017 done and dusted - Kerry winning the Shield after four wins and two defeats over the week – it is now the turn of the Kerry girls in the FOTA Resort Gaynor Cup.

For the first time in the history of the competition both age groups – the U-14s and U-16s – will run simultaneously at UL in Limerick.

Schedule: There will be 41 Leagues on campus meaning there will be over 800 girls playing in the soccer tournament that kicks off early this Thursday, June 22 and runs until Sunday afternoon.

The U-14s, coached by Rebecca Horgan and Julie Cronin, are in Group 4 where they will play North Tipperary Schoolboys/Girls League at 2pm on Thursday and the Inishowen League on Friday at 10am. Depending on results Kerry will then play in the Cup, Shield or Plate Competition.

The U-16s, coached by Tom Kelly and Phil Bates, are in Group 2 and they have an 11am start on Thursday taking on Sligo / Leitrim. They then play Waterford Women’s League at 11am on Friday followed by Limerick Desmond at 3pm. Their final group game is at 10am on Saturday against the Inishowen League followed by a semi-final of the Cup, Shield, Plate, Bowl or Trophy depending on the placing in the group.

Festival of Football

With FOTA Resort coming on board as title sponsors of the Gaynor Tournament they will be hosting a skills competition with stays at the Resort for the winner and her family and squad. There will also be a Women’s National League game taking place on Saturday evening giving the girls a chance to see some of the countries top female soccer players in action. Squads

The Kerry U-16 Gaynor Squad: Edel Harnett, Fiona Galvin, Chloe Fitzgerald, Aoife Cronin, Caragh Kelly, Mary Bates, Hannah Healy, Lauren Bourke, Kate Murphy, Mairead Ann Bennett, Zara Doherty, Gillian Musgrave, Anna Hannigan, Caolin O’Donoghue, Kate Lynch, Shauna O’Donoghue, Emma O’Sullivan and Julie O’Sullivan with the players coming from Killarney Athletic, Killarney Celtic, Listowel Celtic, Mastergeeha and Inter Kenmare.

The Kerry U-14 Gaynor Squad: Ciara Butler, Sara Neher, Aisling Kelly, Siobhan Lyne, Labhoise O’Sullivan Murphy, Eimear O’Donoghue, Mary Bates, Laura O’Carroll, Lucy Daly, Aoife Horgan, Katie Keane, Grainne Musgrave, Melanie Dineen Higgins, Ellana O’Doherty, Pia Hickey, Jade Harkin, Eve Roche Hussey, Lucy O’Leary and Ella Galvin. The players represent Listowel Celtic, Killarney Athletic, Camp Juniors and Inter Kenmare.

Caolan O’Connell team captain of Kerry lifts the shield after the SFAI Umbro Kennedy Cup Shield Final match between Kerry and West Cork at the University of Limerick in Limerick. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile