Republic of Ireland Under 15 Girls 3-1 Galway WFC Under 17
RICHARD BERKELEY’S squad enjoyed a two day training camp in the West this weekend which was topped off nicely with a good run out in Eamonn Deacy Park this afternoon in front of a whopping 952 supporters.
The squad arrived in Salthill Devon FC for training on Saturday to ensure they were well prepared for the challenge of last season’s League & Cup Champions, Galway WFC Under 17s. The local side were made up of a provisional squad, which saw half of existing squad members from last season while Phil Trill also got to see some of the newbies perform for the first time in a competitive outing.
There was good Galway interest in the match day build up with three students involved in the Irish setup. Coláiste Iognáid starlet Kate THOMPSON was named Captain for the encounter while she was joined alongside colleagues Isabella FITZPATRICK (Dominican College, Taylor’s Hill) and Rola OLUSOLA (Merlin College).
The Republic of Ireland trialists were given a steer test which saw all four goals coming in the first thirty minutes.
Ringsend College star Abbie LARKIN opened the Irish account with only four minutes on the clock with a sublime effort from just inside the box.
While Carn youngster Ellie LONG doubled their tally on the quarter hour mark with a nice effort.
But it was Palmerstown CS student Jessie STAPLETON’S effort that was the standout moment for the girls with a solid header to stun the Galway keeper following a wonderful set piece driven into the box.
Galway to their credit responded immediately following the re-start with Abbie CALLANAN slotting home in fine style.
The break couldn’t have come at a better time for Berkeley’s squad as the Galway momentum was building following Callanan’s strike.
The second half saw a raft of changes to the squad and a varying formation and it took some time for the visitors to settle.
Substitute Rola Olusola had a darting run down the right wing but her shot dragged agonisingly wide of the far post on the hour mark.
Former Schools International Anna Fahey tested sub keeper Claudia KEENAN eight minutes from time but the Ardscoil Rathagan grad was equal to the challenge.
FOLLOW UP
The extended squad will meet again in a fortnight’s time in Abbotstown for another training session before the management team cut the squad down to the eighteen for the Bob Docherty Cup which will take place in Wrexham during the Easter Break. The Irish have a tough task on their hands to complete the three in-a-row away from home but one which Berkeley will relish.
POTM
Following much debate, the Player of the Match accolade went to Orlaith O’MAHONY of St. Farnan’s Post Primary School, Prosperous following her hard-working performance for the Republic of Ireland.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND EXTENDED SQUAD | Kate Thompson (CAPT) (Coláiste Iognáid, Galway), Isabella Fitzpatrick (Dominican College, Taylor’s Hill), Rola Olusola (Merlin College, Galway), Summer Lawless (Ballymakenny College, Drogheda), Ava Gibson Doyle (St. Laurence College, Loughlinstown), Liadan Clynch (Bush Post Primary School, Dundalk), Aoibhe Fleming (Lucan Community College), Jessie Stapleton (Palmerstown Community School), Eve O’Brien (Woodbrook College, Bray), Katie Law (Presentation Secondary School, Wexford), Abbie Larkin (Ringsend College), Orlaith O’Mahony (St. Farnan’s Post Primary School, Prosperous), Tara O’Hanlon (Castleknock Community College), Claudia Keenan (Ardscoil Rathagan), Aoife Kelly (Presentation College, Carlow), Ellie Long (Carndonagh Community School), Jodie Griffin (Ardscoil Mhuire, Corbally), Ellie O'Brien (Scoil Muire gan Smál, Blarney), Heidi O'Sullivan (Regina Mundi College, Cork), Grace Flanagan (Presentation Secondary School, Thurles),
INJURED | Caoimhe Golden (Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig)
GALWAY WOMEN’S FC UNDER 17 | Peddy Forde, Sarah Cogley, Ella Gilmore, Sorcha McCarney, Therese Kinnevey, Ailbhe Whyte, Saoirse Kealey, Kate Slevin, Anna Fahey, Aoibheann Costello, Annie Gough, Allanah McNeill, Emma O’Donoghue, Shauna Brennan, Eabha O’Riordan, Abbie Callanan, Saoirse Burke, Aoife Staunton, Lisa Coen.
