Two Limerick players in Rep of Ireland Schools' U15 side to face Northern Ireland

THE Republic of Ireland Schools U15 side will entertain Northern Ireland in an International Friendly at Rock Celtic FC, Dundalk this Sunday, March 16, 1pm.

Two Limerick teenagers have been included in the Republic of Ireland squad, the Crescent College Comprehensive duo of Leah Hannon, Ellen Goggin.

Head Coach Richard Berkeley (Sancta Maria College, Louisburgh) has named a 19 strong panel to face their counterparts in an important outing for the girls in green.

The final squad for this year’s SAFIB Bob Docherty Cup must be submitted the following week so there will be plenty at stake for the players involved. The International tournament will take place in Greenisland FC, Belfast from April 14 to 17.

Berkeley is in the unique position of welcoming back five players from last season. He has both goalkeepers fit for action as Lucy Doyle Farrington (St. Mary’s College, Arklow) and Sarah Doyle (Scoil Mhuire Greenhill, Carrick on Suir) will fight it out for a starting eleven spot while Lara Dallaghan (Loreto Abbey Secondary School, Dalkey), Ciara Milton (St. Leo’s College, Carlow) and Abbie Duffy (Presentation College, Athenry) are all in outstanding form again this year.

The likes of Haily Twomey (Eureka Secondary School, Kells) and Halle Harcourt (Larkin Community College) have further International experience having lined out for the Irish Under 16s in recent months. Both keepers Doyle Farrington, Doyle and Dallaghan and Milton have also been capped at the older age group too so you’d envisage plenty of experience in that sextuplet to marshal the troops for this important test.

Ava Kelly (Tallaght Community School) and Maisy Healy (Holy Faith Secondary School, Clontarf) follow in their sisters footsteps with Ella featuring in 2023 for the Republic of Ireland Schools while International Schools’ Player of the Year, Hannah lined out for Berkeley’s crew in 2022.

Since 2014, these sides have met 8 times for friendly encounters with the Republic of Ireland enjoying the upper hand, winning 5, drawing twice and losing just once. Berkeley will be hoping to maintain a positive outcome on Sunday evening.

When the teams met twelve months ago, it ended with a win to the Republic of Ireland in Belfast. Captain Madison McGuane (Ardscoil Mhuire, Corbally), opened her account midway through the first half while Eva Loftus (Laurel Hill Coláiste),  added a second before Emilee Leacock grabbed one back for the hosts. McGuane popped up seven minutes from time for her second and the Republic’s third of the day to finish 1-3 to the visitors.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS SELECT | Ruby Boland (Gaelcholáiste Chill Dara), Laila Hurley (St. MacDara’s Community College, Templeogue), Matylda Stelmaszek (St. Kilian’s DSD, Clonskeagh), Halle Harcourt (Larkin Community College), Kyra Gavigan (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar), Leah O’Leary Callender (Ashtown School, Cork), Leah Hannon, Ellen Goggin (both Crescent College Comprehensive), Abbie Duffy (Presentation College, Athenry), Lucy Doyle Farrington (St. Mary’s College, Arklow), Ava Hallinan (Jesus & Mary Secondary School, Enniscrone), Lara Dallaghan (Loreto Abbey Secondary School, Dalkey), Ruby Norris, Sarah Doyle (both Scoil Mhuire Greenhill, Carrick on Suir), Ava Kelly (Tallaght Community School), Ciara Milton (St. Leo’s College, Carlow), Skye Barrett (Maynooth Post Primary School), Maisy Healy (Holy Faith Secondary School, Clontarf), Hailey Twomey (Eureka Secondary School, Kells).

MANAGEMENT STAFF | Head Coach Richard Berkeley (Sancta Maria College, Louisburgh), Coach Kaneshia McKinney (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Coach Paddy McDaid (Finn Valley College, Stranorlar), Coach Mia O’Connell (SETU Carlow), GK Coach Emmet Peyton (St. Muredach’s College, Ballina), Physio Cianna Hickey, Equipment Manager Joan Croke

NORTHERN IRELAND |  Anna Roberts (Blessed Trinity College, Belfast), Saskia McLaughlin (Glengormley Integrated College), Sasha Cowan (Sale Grammar, England), Grace Steele (Magherafelt High School), Sara Devany (Regent House, Newtownards), Ellie-Mae Turner (City of Armagh High School), Anayah Lee (Thornhill College, Derry-Londonderry), Caitlin Shields (Grosvenor Grammar, Belfast), Anna Smyth (Dalriada Grammar, Ballymoney), Grace Murray (Parkhall Integrated College, Antrim), Grace Guest (Our Lady and St. Patrick’s College Knock, Belfast), Charley McMullan (Belfast Model School for Girls), Abigail Curley (Blessed Trinity College), Ella Wasson (Lisneal College, Derry-Londonderry), Annarose Robinson (St. Catherine’s College, Armagh), Ellie Tohill (Grosvenor Grammar), Niamh McDaid (Thornhill College), Alexandra McKinnon (Laurelhill Community College, Lisburn)

MANAGEMENT STAFF | Head Coach Stephen Graham, Assistant Coach Heather Mearns, Assistant Coach Jack Little, GK Coach Stuart Irvine, Physio Eoin Mahon, Analyst Anna Mae Samuel