Muireann’s debut for Ireland
THERE was lots of pride for Sligo/ Leitrim clubManor Rangers at the weekend as local midfielder Muireann Devaney earned her first cap for her country. The St Clare’s Comprehensive student lined out for the FAI Schools U15s Girls as they took on Northern Ireland on Saturday. The Republic of Ireland were decisive winners on a - 1 margin. The club was proudly posting about the achievement of the local student, with crowds at the match in the AUL Complex in Dublin. Manor Rangers posted congratulations to the young footballer following her performance. They said: “Congratulations to Manor Ranger and St Clare’s Comprehensive’s Muirean Devaney who won her first cap for the FAI Schools U15s Girls coming on for the second half vs Northern Ireland to help record a 7- 1 win for the Republic. Well done to Muireann and her family on this great achievement,” the club added. Although the score- line was quite flattering, the U15 Girls’ Schools select did extremely well to overcome Northern Ireland in appalling weather conditions. The wind and the rain hampered the proceedings slightly but the score- line more than made up for the stark conditions. St. Paul’s Oughterard scholar Anna Fahey opened the Republic of Ireland’s account with seven minutes on the clock as she netted from close range with a superb strike. Northern Ireland came very close to getting an equaliser ten minutes later as Cora Morgan made a delightful run down the right wing but her effort on target shaved the outside of the post much to the relief of goalkeeper Neve Scanlon. The hosts then doubled their lead 25 minutes in as Shauna Carroll of Loreto, Foxrock clipped the ball past netminder Mandy Clifford. A brace then followed as Erin McLaughlin scored three minutes later from a well weighted pass from Ballincollig’s Zara Foley, 3- 0 to Counihan’s crew. Anna Fahey secured her second of the afternoon and the Republic of Ireland’s fourth 60 seconds later. Larkin CC’s Jessica Ziu made it 5- 0 with five minutes to play in the first half. As Counihan’s extended squad are still trialling as part of their preparations for the Bob Docherty Cup, the Republic of Ireland opted for a new look second half with a significant turnover of players to finish out the game. The focus will now turn to their encounter with England on March 12th as the extended squad will be whittled down to 18. A final session on March 25th will put the finishing touches to the squad ahead of the Bob Docherty Cup.