Irish Under 15 Schools Manager Richard Berkley has
finalised his squad for the Bob Docherty Cup that begins on Monday in Salou.
Ireland will play Scotland and England in their opening games on Monday and
Tuesday. The squad features one Galway player with Aoibheann Costello from
Mercy Tuam on the squad.
The squad will meet up in Dublin on Saturday evening
ahead of an early departure to Barcelona on Sunday morning as the action kicks
off Monday afternoon.
The three day tournament will see Scotland up first
for Richard Berkeley’s crew while they will compete for the John Read Trophy
against England on the Tuesday as well as attempting to progress in the
International campaign.
The other ties will see newcomers Gibraltar up
against Northern Ireland on match day one while England take on Wales. The
following day has Scotland versus Northern Ireland while Wales entertain
Gibraltar.
Unfortunately for the Republic of Ireland they will
be without the services of Coláiste na Trócaire, Rathkeale scholar Nicola
McNamara who sustained an ACL injury last weekend. McNamara has been
instrumental for her school this season but more importantly she was a pivotal
player for the International outfit picking up POTM against Northern Ireland
last month in a friendly in Armagh. Berkeley has called in Freya De Mange of
Presentation Secondary School, Kilkenny has an apt replacement. Freya has been
in superb form of late assisting her school to National Cup glory in the Junior
Cup recently and they’ve another National title up for grabs as they take on
Claregalway College in the Minor Cup following the Easter recess. De Mange is a
physical player, with set pieces her speciality so she will do well for the
scholars next week when called upon.
Sue Ronan had called four of the panel into the
Under 16s double header with Belgium last month with youngsters Jessie
Stapleton (Palmerstown Community School) and Ellen Molloy (Presentation SS,
Kilkenny) getting some valuable game time while Eva Mangan (Carrigaline CS)
and Nicole McNamara (Coláiste na Trocaire, Rathkeale) enjoyed the
environment with the older age group and exceled in the training camp.
Youngsters Ellie Long (Carndonagh CS), Liadán Clynch
(Bush PP School) and last season’s star Jess Stapleton will all be eligible for
selection next season.
Captain Ellen Molloy enjoyed Bob Docherty Cup
success twelve months previous in Jordanstown alongside Stapleton and the
deadly duo will be looking to replicate such form abroad. The scholars
celebrated the double, capturing the John Read Trophy in Stafford Town in March
2018. The Kilkenny grad scored a brace in that game to secure the silverware
with Erin McLaughlin (Carndonagh CS) netting late on for a 3-0 win. The girls
will also compete for these honours on match day two when the teams meet.
The Republic of Ireland will be attempting to defend
their title having had such a wonderful campaign last year in Ulster
University. They notched up 11 goals in 3 games, only conceding once. The Irish
overcame Scotland 0-5 in their opening match while Northern Ireland ‘B’ went
down 0-4 to Berkeley’s side which lined up a grand finale with England. The
Irish managed to claim the prestigious title with a hard fought 2-1 victory.
The Republic of Ireland had last won the title in 2010 with runners up spot
claimed in the three previous seasons so the victory at this level was long
awaited. The class of 2019 will be hoping to impress in the sun with another
double success for the Irish students.
REPUBLIC
OF IRELAND SQUAD
Aoibheann COSTELLO (Scoil Bhríde, Mercy Secondary School, Tuam)
Amy MAHON (St. Joseph’s Community College,
Charlestown)
Alison LONG (St. Patrick’s College, Lacken Cross)
Liadán CLYNCH (Bush Post Primary School, Dundalk)
Maria REYNOLDS (Loreto Abbey, Dalkey)
Amy CLIFFORD (Loreto Secondary School, Kilkenny)
Jessie STAPLETON (Palmerstown Community School)
Ellen MOLLOY (Presentation Secondary School,
Kilkenny)
Robyn MURRAY (St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Navan)
Rebecca McMAHON (St. MacDara’s Community College,
Templeogue),
Orlagh FITZPATRICK (St. Mary’s College, Naas)
Eva MANGAN (Carrigaline Community School)
Freya De MANGE (Presentation Secondary School,
Kilkenny)
Jenna SLATTERY (Laurel Hill Coláiste)
Áine WALSH (Salesian Secondary College, Pallaskenry)
Aoife CRONIN (Scoil Pól, Kilfinane)
Emma DOHERTY (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana)
Ellie LONG (Carndonagh Community School)
MANAGEMENT
Head Coach Richard Berkeley (Sancta Maria College,
Louisburgh)
Coach Karen Byrne (St. Michael’s Special School,
Skerries)
Coach Emma Mullin GK Coach Scott Gaynor
(Presentation SS, Wexford)
Kit Person Karen Henry (Mulroy College, Milford)
Physio Aoife Burke
FIXTURES
SCHEDULE
Monday,
April 22 | Match Day 1 KO 11am
Gibraltar vs Northern Ireland
Scotland vs Republic of Ireland
England vs Wales
Tuesday, April 23 | Match Day 2 KO 11am
Scotland vs Northern Ireland
Wales vs Gibraltar
Republic of Ireland vs England
Wednesday,
April 24 | Match Day 3 KO 9.30am
Draw to be made following match day 2
After the first two series of matches have been
completed a league table will be drawn up and countries will be placed in order
from 1 to 6. Teams in first and second place will compete in the Final. The
other two matches will be between teams who have not played each other
previously in the tournament.
