Limerick teenager captains Rep of Ireland U15s in draw with Northern Ireland

THE Republic of Ireland Schools U15 side had to settle for a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw with Northern Ireland in their first International friendly of the season in the AUL Complex on Sunday.

The talented Chloe Wallace, of Coláiste Nano Nagle, Sexton Street in Limerick was named Captain for this clash which saw her put in a sterling performance as she marshalled the defence for the full eighty minutes. 

Another Limerick teenager, the exciting Madison McGuane, who attends Ardscoil Mhuire, Corbally, was unfortunate to miss out on the game through injury having been named in the squad for the fixture.

Mounthawk Community School, Tralee pupil Laura Falvey opened the scoring for the hosts with just 12 minutes on the clock.

However, this was cancelled out by Kayla Ann Clayton 12 minutes later as she slotted past Fanning at the near post.

It was honours even at the break.

Many of the girls played in the Women’s Underage National League the previous day so there was a raft of changes from both benches for the second forty.

Niamh Hassan smashed the crossbar four minutes into the restart as her piledriver came agonisingly close while Abigail Bradshaw forced the Northern keeper into a brilliant save four minutes later.

 It was lovely to see Sarah McCaffrey and Carla Muldoon get introduced late on as they both were coming back from injuries.

 Clones star McCaffrey and Anna Butler both had shots that were just wide of the mark late on.

 Ella Kelly (Tallaght CS) played a delightful ball to Roscrea scholar Lily-Anne O’Meara, but her attempt hit the side netting.

 Kelly was hand again to feed Anna Butler (St. Andrew’s College, Blackrock) at the edge of the box, but the keeper was able to palm the ball over the bar for the last of the action with a late flurry from Berkeley’s side.

 Both Head Coaches were happy enough with the run out this afternoon as they make their final preparations ahead of the Bob Docherty Cup which kicks off on April 2 in Glasgow.

 These two sides go head-to-head in competitive action on Thursday, April 6 in the final series of games in the tournament.  Prior to that the Republic of Ireland will open their campaign against the hosts on Sunday, April 2 while England will be their penultimate fixture on Tuesday, April 4 as Berkeley looks to defend the title.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND | Jenna WILLOUGHBY (Ratoath College),  Kate JONES (Coláiste Muire, Ennis), Aibhlinn COTTER (Kilrush Community School), Chloe WALLACE (Coláiste Nano Nagle, Sexton Street, Limerick), Heather LOOMES (Jesus & Mary Secondary, Salerno, Salthill), Lily-Anne O’MEARA (Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré), Ava MULLINS (Calasanctius College, Oranmore), Leah McGRATH (St. Anne’s Secondary School, Tipperary), Ella KELLY (Tallaght Community School), Laura FALVEY (Mounthawk Community School, Tralee), Aoife FENNELL (Our Lady’s School, Terenure), Abigail BRADSHAW (St. Colmcille’s Community School, Knocklyon), Grace EHINGER (Borrisokane Community School), Aisling MEEHAN (Hold Child Secondary School, Killiney), Laura FANNING (St. Vincent’s Secondary School, Dundalk), Sarah McCAFFREY (Largy College, Clones), Carla MULDOON (St. Mac Dara’s Community College, Templeogue), Anna BUTLER (St. Andrew’s College, Blackrock) 

MANAGEMENT STAFF | Head Coach Richard BERKELEY (Sancta Maria College, Louisburgh), Coach Katie McCARTHY (Ballincollig Community School), Coach Kaneshia McKINNEY (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), GK Coach Emmet PEYTON (St. Muredach’s College, Ballina), Equipment Manager Tessa MULLINS (Holy Rosary College, Mountbellew), Performance Analyst Aoife GIBBONS (IT Tralee), Physio Hannah STEWART

NORTHERN IRELAND | Isla MITCHELL (Bangor Academy & Sixth Form College), Zara MAGUIRE (Kilkeel High School), Emma BROWN (Dominican College, Belfast), Lillie HORNER (Belfast Model School for Girls), Mirijana KARRABECAJ (St. Joseph’s College, Belfast), Chloe BECKINSALE (Belfast High School), Caitlin CARLISLE (Carrickfergus Grammar School), Sophie HUTCHINSON (Ballymoney High School), Sophie POLLOCK (Lurgan College), Jessica McGUINNESS (Edmund Rice College), Niamh HASSAN (St. Mary’s Limavady High School), Charlotte HAVERN (St. Paul’s College, Bessbrook), Lucy KELLY (Mercy College, Belfast), Mia REILLY (Blessed Trinity College, Belfast), Kayla Ann CLAYTON (Tandragee Junior High School), Anna WALSH (Dominican College, Belfast), Caitie McGURNAGHAN (Rathmore Grammar School), Maya STACHURA (Edmund Rice College)

MANAGEMENT | Head Coach Stevie GRAHAM, Assistant Coach Heather MEARNS, GK Coach Stuart Irvine, Physio Lauren Black, Analyst Anna Mae Samuel, S&C Coach Ali Scott

REFEREE | Sarah Dyas (Dublin)