Republic of Ireland U15 Schools 6-1 Salthill Devon FC U16
Sinead Farrell (16), Leah Henry (34 pen, 39), Shania McGonigle (58, 69) Heather Payne (73)
Evvie Lowndes (66)
CHLOE McNAMEE of St: Oliver’s Post Primary School in Oldcastle led out the Schools team in a windswept Salthill Devon on Saturday last (February 22, 2014) in what was to become a goal spree for the Schools select:
A trio of goals in each half gave the Republic of Ireland their second victory on the trot as Counihan’s troops were victories last month when they hosted the Northern Ireland U16s:
Summerhill’s St: Joseph’s College pupil Sinead Farrell opened the scoring with a perfectly weighted goal following some wonderful exchanges in the box with colleague Niamh Farrelly of St: Joseph’s in Lucan on 16 minutes:
Listowel’s Leah Henry was on fire with three quick snap shots on goal inside the first quarter following some wonderfully timed runs off the ball
The Salthill Devon select were no strangers to the International scene with four of their starting eleven having featured for the Republic of Ireland U15s in recent years:
Coláiste Iognaid student Evvie Lowndes starred in 2012 and was impressive for her club with a fine performance for the Galway contingency:
Dominican College pupil Louise Creaven was the busier of the two keepers as the Schools select hounded in shot after shot but the youngster remained calm under the constant pressure
Convent of Mercy star Rachael Fitzmaurice also featured alongside Creaven last season in Belfast and impressed with her hard graft throughout the game:
Another student to feature in 2013 was Sorcha Ní Bhraonain of Coláiste Cholmcille in Indreabhán who acted as play maker for the Devon dynamos
The Republic of Ireland’s second of the afternoon came on 34 minutes as Leah Henry was awarded a penalty which she duly converted following a Carmel Heery foul in the box:
Henry popped up again just minutes later to secure a 3/0 lead heading into the break:
Counihan used her bench to great effect with all the squad getting a hard workout: The only player not to feature was Carndonagh net stopper Aoife McColgan who is out with a minor injury: However, the Ulster native will be fighting fit for the England encounter on March 8 which will give Counihan food for thought as she ponders her starting eleven for that showdown:
Goalkeeper Naoisha McAloon was in stunning form against Salthill and was unlucky to concede: The Ratoath College star captained her side against Northern Ireland and ensured that Aoife McColgan and herself kept a clean sheet on that encounter: An extraordinary feat that the pair hope to maintain
Carndonagh’s Shania McGonigle got Ireland’s fourth of the afternoon 18 minutes into the second half:
Ricky O’Flaherty’s charges got one back eight minutes later as Evvie Lowndes struck from 12 yards out to nestle the ball past the diving McAloon
McGonigle was on hand again to score the goal of the game with a sweet strike at the near post to bring it to 5/1 with 11 minutes remaining
Ballinasloe native Heather Payne finished the afternoon with a goal to her credit seven minutes from time with a well worked manoeuvre inside the box to take the ball past Creaven
This victory will give the girls a much needed boost as they travel to England in a fortnight’s time for a sterner test as they face the England Schools select ahead of the Bob Docherty Cup in April
Alex Kavanagh who attends St: Michael’s Secondary School in Finglas will mark a wonderful occasion for the family as she and big brother Cian who attends Patrician College will be capped for FAI Schools in the same season: A remarkable achievement for the talented duo
Cian was carrying a slight knock last week at the boys training camp in Ballybofey but will make a welcome return when the squad travel to the Rock Cefn Druids FC to take on Wales in their opening game of the Centenary Shield on Thursday, March 6 (KO 7pm):
Two days later Alex will line out for the Republic of Ireland U15s select as they take on England in an International Friendly on Saturday, March 8 in Maidstone United FC (KO 1:30pm)
This will be the girl’s final challenge ahead of the Bob Docherty Cup which takes place from April 14 to 17, 2014 in Repton School, Derbyshire:
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS: Naoisha McALOON (Ratoath College, Meath), Alex KAVANAGH (St: Michael’s SS, Finglas), Chloe MCNAMEE (St: Oliver’s Post Primary, Oldcastle), Ciara HICKEY (Spanish Point SS, Clare) , Ciara MAHER (Coláiste de hIde, Tallaght), Leah HENRY (Presentation SS, Listowel), Leah REYBET DEGAT (Sutton Park School), Leanne KIERNAN (Bailieborough CS), Niamh FARRELLY (St: Joseph’s College, Lucan), Sabrina MCCARTHY (St: Caimin’s CS, Shannon), Saoirse NOONAN (Christ the King Girls’ SS, Cork), Sinead FARRELL (St: Joseph’s College, Summerhill, Athlone)
ALL H/T SUBS: Katie BURDIS (Coláiste na hInse, Bettystown) FOR HICKEY, Tiegan RUDDY (St: Wolstan’s CS, Celbridge) FOR REYBET DEGAT, Heather PAYNE (Ard Scoil Mhuire, Ballinasloe) FOR KAVANAGH, Shania MCGONIGLE (Carndonagh CS) FOR KIERNAN, Lauryn O’CALLAGHAN (St: MacDara’s CC, Templeogue) FOR FARRELL
SUB NOT USED: Aoife McCOLGAN (Carndonagh CS) - injured
MANAGEMENT: Lorraine Counihan, Manager (Colaiste Mhuire, Buttevant) Alistair Harvey, Coach (St: Kilian’s DSD, Clonskeagh) David Rooney, GK Coach
SALTHILL DEVON FC U16: Louise Creaven, Rachael Honan, Carmel Heery, Aisling Lawless, Rebecca Rooney, Ellerose O’Flaherty, Natasha Madden, Roisin Jacob, Evvie Lowndes, Rachael Fitzmaurice, Sorcha Ní Bhraonain
SUBS: Sinead Heffernan, Aideen Naughton, Melissa McGreen, Emily Naughton, Eimear Conlon, Johanna Krapp, Meabh Corcoran
MANAGEMENT: Ricky O’Flaherty
REFEREE: Vincent Carew (Galway)