Northwest girls involved for Connacht
FOUR girls from the Northwest were selected to play at the FAI Schools U15 Girls’ Interprovincial Tournament at the AUL Complex in Clonshaugh.
For the first time, Connacht won the tournament after a brilliant performance.
Helen Monaghan and Sarah Kiernan from the Ursuline College were on the squad as was Erin Taheny from St Mary’s College Ballisodare. International player Muireann Devaney from St Clare’s Comprehensive School in Manorhamilton. was selected too. Kate O’Dowd, also an International player from St Nathy’s College, Ballaghaderreen was also picked for the squad.
It was a fantastic achievement for all three players from the region representing their Province at the tournament.
Kingpins Ursuline College, Sligo have been quite successful of late in the FAI Schools Cup competitions and it’s welcome to see Helen Monaghan and Sarah Kiernan included in the line-up.
The three-day event saw a series of six matches played with Provinces awarded two points for a win and one point for a draw.
The Interprovincial series will be the first step in the process of selecting the FAI Schools International Development squad of 18 players who will compete in the Bob Docherty Cup. The 2017/18 campaign will see the Republic of Ireland Schools select travel to Belfast for this season’s Home Nations event. The International series will take place during the Easter Break from Saturday, March 24 to Monday, March 26. Prior to that the squad will take on England in the annual John Read Cup which will take place on Saturday, March 10 at Stafford Town FC.
Leinster won a whooping fifth consecutive title last season which is a magnificent achievement for the province under the stewardship of veteran Paul Howard Loreto College, Crumlin.
An impressive fourteen players will make a return from last season with one from Leinster, two from Ulster, five from Munster and six from Connacht all starring. Four former International players were on the side along with Muireann and Kate, Anna Fahey from St Paul’s Secondary School Oughterard and Muster’s Aoibheann Clancy from the Presentation Secondary School in Thurles.
The Interprovincial series for girls has always been a tight and competitive outing for the four teams involved.
Ulster last won the tournament outright in 2010 while Munster won the following season, 2011. Connacht came agonisingly close to snatching the title back in 2012, only for Leinster to get an injury time winner courtesy of a converted penalty from Eleanor Ryan Doyle St. Joseph’s College, Lucan to take the title in dramatic fashion in Athlone Town FC.
Donegal twins Aoife and Louise Gallinagh (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana) will be joined by school-mates Katelyn Doherty and Emma Doherty this year for Bridgeen Harley’s troops as well as centre half Kate Toland (Deele College, Raphoe).
Kate is the younger sister of Tyler who came through the school ranks with the 16-year-old already making a name for herself in Colin Bell’s squad.
Munster were equally as competitive with Tipperary pair Robin Carey (Coláiste Dun Iascaigh, Cahir) and Emer McCarthy (Cashel Community School) resuming their duties together with Aoife Horgan (St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Ballybunion), and Emma O’Donoghue (Coláiste Muire, Ennis) all lining out with the experienced Clancy of Thurles.
Indeed Aoibheann’s footballing ability has been thriving with her inclusion in Sharon Boyle’s U16 plans this month which is a welcome addition. The Thurles thunderbolt picked up Player of the Match against England last March for the Republic of Ireland Schools in the annual John Read Cup. Following the three day series in Dublin on Sunday, an extended panel will be invited back for trial on Saturday, November 25 in FAI HQ, Abbotstown.
Richard Berkeley, teacher in Sancta Maria College, Louisburgh will manage the Irish select this season following the departure of Lorraine Counihan (Coláiste Mhuire, Buttevant). The Tallaght native will be joined by Karen Byrne (St. Ultan’s, Navan), Lisa McMenamin (Davitt College, Castlebar) and Karen Henry (Mulroy College, Milford) as well as colleague Dave Rooney who will retain his position as Goalkeeping Coach. In keeping with the long standing tradition of maintaining the interest in the competition until the final matches on Sunday morning, the draw for Saturday and Sunday’s matches was made following the games on Friday evening.
CONNACHT: Sarah Kiernan & Helen Monaghan (Ursuline College, Sligo), Erin Taheny (St. Mary’s College, Ballysadare),Muireann Devaney (St. Clare’s Comprehensive School, Manorhamilton), Kate O’Dowd (St. Nathy’s College, Ballaghaderreen), Chellene Trill, Shauna Brennan, Hannah Walsh & Kate Slevin (Claregalway College), Theresa Kinnevey & Anna Fahey (St. Paul’s Secondary School, Oughterard), Annie Gough (Jesus & Mary SS, Gortnor Abbey), Saoirse Healy (Presentation College, Athenry), Abbie Callanan (Gort Community School), Emer O’Neill (St. Louis Community School, Kiltimagh), Aoibheann Costello (Scoil Bhríde, Mercy SS, Tuam), Amy Mahon (St. Joseph’s Community College, Charlestown).
MANAGEMENT: Dom Coll (Presentation College, Athenry), Seamas MacEachmharcaigh, Sarah Farragher (both Sacred Heart School, Westport), Seán Boland, Fabienne Cooney (both Meánscoil Muire gan Smál, Convent of Mercy, Roscommon).