Michelle seeing the world with her flag
MICHELLE O’NEILL is certainly getting to see plenty of the world in her role as one of the leading officials in women’s football. And the proud Wexford native really clocked up the air miles last week when she was in action in the Estadio Ciudad de Vicente Lopez in Buenos Aires.
The stadium hosted a FIFA Women’s World Cup preliminary competition play-off between Argentina and Panama, and Michelle was selected as one of the two assistant referees.
The game was refereed by Jana Adamkova from the Czech Republic, while the other assistant referee was Sonja Rodak from Croatia, and the fourth official was Portugal’s Sandra Braz.
Keeping up the international theme, Mikie Rowe from Campile has been racking up the player of the week awards since the U.S. college soccer season resumed, and he recently added a player of the year accolade to his collection.
Rowe is a star striker with Young Harris College, better known as the Mountain Lions, and the former Waterford F.C. player is a key figure in their line-up.
He has already scored 22 goals in this campaign for a team which has now won its last seven games on the trot.
Moving closer to home, Enniscorthy lad Festy Ebosele scored a precious international goal last week in Tallaght Stadium when the Republic of Ireland Under-17 team lost 3-1 to England.
His side fell 3-0 in arrears before the Derby County player was taken down in the box after a marauding run down the left flank, getting up to convert the spot kick himself.
He also made an immediate impact when introduced at half-time in Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the Czech Republic at the same venue, providing the assists for both goals as Anselmo Garcia-MacNulty volleyed home his corner before Seán Kennedy finished his impressive build-up play.
Incidentally, for readers missing their League of Ireland fix already after the recent FAI Cup final brought the season to a close, the official fixture list for 2019 will be released on December 19.
Wexford F.C. will kick off in their first Division 1 campaign under the guidance of new manager Brian O’Sullivan on Friday, February 22.