Limerick trailblazers are honoured with international caps on 50th anniversary

ON THE 50th anniversary of their first time taking the field for the Republic of Ireland women's soccer team, several Limerick women have been presented with international caps.

The ladies were recognised at an event organised by the FAI prior to the current Republic of Ireland women's team’s first-ever international game at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday last.

Though long overdue, the caps were still coveted by the Limerick ladies and were presented by the president of the FAI, Gerry McAnaney.

A total of six players from Limerick represented the Rep of Ireland women's side during their inaugural four internationals in 1973.

The six players were Mary Gavin and Geraldine Grace, who started in the first international, and Marion Slattery, who was involved in the first two internationals, while Mary Joyce, Pauline Maher and Freda Noonan also featured in the team's early fixtures.

Pauline Maher became the first player from Limerick to score for the Rep of Ireland at senior level when she netted against Northern Ireland in October 1973.

The six players were all recognised among hundreds of other women who have played football for Ireland over years. The six Limerick women  blazed a way for other females to play the sport. The Limerick women helped Ireland defeat Wales 3-2 on May 13th, 1973,  and later  beat Northern Ireland 4-1 on June 30th, 1973 in Bluebell, Dublin.

Including the 1973 team, more than 200 other women received their first caps, including another Limerick woman, Bridget D'Arcy O'Brien, who played on the 1974 Republic of Ireland women's team.

Freda Noonan, who originally played for Clyde Rovers, said the special event in the presidential suite in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday  was ‘absolutely incredible’.

The former Irish international, who got five caps for her country added: “It was just fantastic to meet up with the Limerick gang again, it felt like no time has passed and that it was only yesterday we were all playing together for Ireland and of course Limerick county.

“When we started we had absolutely nothing, we would get lifts from our parents around the country jumping into cars, muddy and dirty after our games, not even a changing room, but now the facilities the current crop of players have is brilliant and it is so inspiring to see.”

An historic day for the first ever Republic of Ireland women's team on Saturday last was capped off for the cap recipients by witnessing the current Republic  of Ireland women's team  win their Nations League game against Northern Ireland on a convincing scoreline of 3-0 in front of a record 36,000 attendance.