The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Soccer mad Éabha meets her idols
A YOUNG Killorglin AFC star availed of the opportunity of a lifetime this week, as sportsmad 11-year-old Éabha Dolan travelled to the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin to train with a host of international soccer stars.
Éabha and her Dad Paul were given the best of treatment on Wednesday by the FAI after the 6th Class Scoil Mhuire student was chosen at random from thousands of girls participating in the Aviva ‘Soccer Sisters’ initiative. Although understandably nervous on the way to Dublin to play alongside the Republic of Ireland women’s senior team, her nerves quickly gave way to excitement once the evening’s session got underway.
“She is into all sports and she has been very lucky because earlier this year she was part of a group from Killorglin AFC that was picked to take part in a similar initiative in Dublin” her Dad Paul told The Kerryman.
“The two of us travelled up last Tuesday and she was very nervous of course, but she got great enjoyment from the day. The girls had their own little training session from 3pm with the Irish Under-19 team, and later that evening they met the seniors. The entire thing lasted around four hours, so they got a good run of it!”
While the girls were away training, the FAI made a presentation to parents, explaining how its girls’ soccer system works, and the final verdict on the day from Éabha and Paul was that it had been a brilliant occasion.
“It was very exciting to sit in on an Irish training session and play a bit of soccer with them after,” Paul said.
“Éabha’s favourite aspect of the day was the training session all the girls had with the coaches beforehand, and she also loved the personalised kit they were all given by the FAI. They also got a football and autographs from the whole team.”
If there was any doubt of Éabha continuing with the game from here, it was firmly put in its place by the experience, Paul said.
“The other parents couldn’t believe we had travelled all the way from Kerry, but she loves the game. Killorglin AFC has been working hard to get girls teams together with a while, and things like this definitely encourage girls to keep it up.”