THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND U-15 SCHOOLS team had a comprehensive 6-0 victory over hosts Northern Ireland in Newforge Sports Complex, Belfast yesterday in the first of two clashes in the Bob Docherty Cup. There are two Galway girls involved in the Irish squad, Mairead Mullins from St Cuan's Castleblakeney and Ava Gallagher from Calasanctius College, Oranmore. Holy Faith Secondary School, Clontarf's Maisy HEALY netted a hat-trick enroute to claiming the Player of the Match accolade as she played a Captain’s role throughout an extraordinary 70 minutes of football.
Healy broke the deadlock 13 minutes in with a sweet left footed effort past Ifeoma Agoha in the Northern Ireland goal. Maireád Mullins (St. Cuan’s College, Castleblakeney) had a wonderful opportunity to extend their lead on 21 minutes, but Agoha brilliantly palmed the ball over her crossbar. However, Mia WHELAN (Coláiste Bride, Enniscorthy) doubled the Republic’s tally two minutes later with a fabulous finish. Unfortunately, Daisy Fleming (Holy Family Secondary School, Newbridge) was denied superbly by the athletic shot stopper Agoha just before the break. The visitors led 2-0 at the interval.
Agoha pulled off an excellent save to keep Fiadh Wood’s strike out midway through the second period. Super sub-Ava GALLAGHER made it three nil with her first touch of the game. A fantastic introduction to proceedings from the Calasanctius College, Oranmore youngster. The instrumental HEALY netted her second and the Republic of Ireland’s fourth of the contest on the hour mark. Healy’s classmate Fiadh WOODS got on the scoresheet eight minutes later as Aoibhe Galvin and Healy combined well to feed Woods for the ultimate strike.
Kylemore College, Ballyfermot student Galvin was influential in Ireland’s sixth with her pacy run down the right flank to cross into Healy’s path, the Clontarf lady finishing smartly to complete her hat-trick and the visitors sixth of the contest. It leaves Richard Berkeley’s side in a commanding position when the Republic entertain their Northern counterparts for the Bob Docherty Cup. The second leg will take place next Sunday, March 29 at Home Farm FC, Whitehall (2.0).
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS | Caoimhe Keating (Presentation Secondary School, Wexford), Maisy Healy ©, Fiadh Woods (Holy Faith Secondary School, Clontarf), Maia Stokes (Scoil Mhuire Greenhill, Carrick on Suir), Pixie Keddy (Rosemont Secondary School, Sandyford), Norah Pustay (Dominican College, Griffith Avenue), Emma Fitzpatrick (Creagh College, Gorey), Saoirse Reynolds (Sacred Heart School, Westport), Daisy Fleming (Holy Family Secondary School, Newbridge), Maireád Mullins (St. Cuan’s College, Castleblakeney), Mia Whelan (Coláiste Bride, Enniscorthy)
SUBS USED | Aoibhe Galvin (Kylemore College, Ballyfermot) for Reynolds (HT), Alannah Mooney (New Cross College, Finglas) for Mullins (HT), Faith Dawson (Drogheda Grammar School) for Stokes (55), Ava Gallagher (Calasanctius College, Oranmore) for Whelan (55), Hattie Farrell (Mount Anville Secondary School, Goatstown) for Keddy (55)
SUBS NOT USED | Megan McGinley (Loreto Community School, Milford), Rosaleen O’Leary (St. Mary’s Secondary School, Nenagh)
MANAGEMENT STAFF | Head Coach Richard Berkeley (formerly of 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 | Ifeoma Agoha, Molly Gray, Gracey Livingston, Sara Devany ©, Connie Harper, Aoife Conlon, Zion Donnan, Lydia Devlin, Leah Hepburn, Kelly Robinson, Saoirse Devine
SUBS USED | Maeve McMenamin for Delvin (HT), Cara McVeigh for Devine (48)
SUBS NOT USED | Sophie Nelson, Lauren Kirkpatrick, Grace Greenhill, Sophia Gill, Darcy Grayson
STAFF | Stephen Graham (Head Coach), Heather Mearns (Coach), Jack Little (Coach), Eoin Mahon (GK Coach), Stuart Irvine (Physio)
RESULTS & FIXTURES
Sunday, March 22 | Match Day 1
Northern Ireland 0-6 Republic of Ireland, KO 1pm, Newforge Sports Complex, Belfast
Sunday, March 29 | Match Day 2
Republic of Ireland vs Northern Ireland, KO 2pm, Home Farm FC, Whitehall (Grass)
