Republic of Ireland win Bob Docherty Cup opener & secure John Read Trophy

SAFIB Bob Docherty Cup | Under 15 Girls’ International Tournament

Monday, April 11, 2022

Republic of Ireland 4-1 England

Orlaith Doherty (31), Chloe Wallace (54) Hannah Healy (57), Emily Fitzgerald (63)  Niamh Boothroyd (59)

THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS got off to a winning start in the 2022 Bob Docherty Cup campaign with a confident victory over their English counterparts.

The hosts had a comfortable 4-0 win against Northern Ireland yesterday evening which left little doubt that it was going to be a mammoth task for Richard Berlekey’s side this afternoon.

Indeed England had the first real opportunity of the game as Niamh Boothroyd came closest to scoring when she rounded Clodagh Fitzgerald in the Irish goal but a heavy touch took the ball away from her and over the endline.

Five minutes later, it was Ireland that tested the merits of the English number one when Orlaith Doherty forced a fine save from Ella Stowell at the near post. The responding corner saw Tallaght Community School pupil Lauryn McCabe rise highest in the box but her header just sailed wide of the mark. 

The crucial opener came courtesy of the tenacious St. Columba’s College scholar Orlaith DOHERTY as she got on the end of a Kiera Sena (Coláiste an Chraoibín, Fermoy) corner four minutes from the interval.

An out swinging corner from Lauryn McCabe found Chloe WALLACE (Coláiste Nano Nagle, Sexton Street, Limerick) in the box who made no mistake from six yards out with a wonderful strike for Ireland’s second with 54 minutes played.   

A purple patch for the Republic of Ireland as two minutes later, Captain Hannah HEALY (Holy Faith SS, Clontarf) made it 3-0. Her penetrating run down the centre of the park was ably finished with a perfect shot on goal, past the diving keeper.

England got one back just before the hour mark when the impressive Niamh Boothroyd struck from close range.

Ireland’s fourth came from substitute Emily FITZGERALD (Coláiste Iognaid, Galway) who was only on the field a few minutes. Her impact was immediate when she got on the end of a McCabe cross from the left flank to convert past Stowell.

Ella Stowell pulled off an excellent save five minutes from time to deny Emily Fitzgerald her second goal of the day.

An inspiring outing for the Irish girls in their opening game of the tournament.

POTM

Hannah Healy and Lauryn McCabe were in remarkable form this afternoon but the management team selected Emma DUFFY of Davitt College, Castlebar as the Player of the Match given her stellar performance over the seventy minutes. Her reading of the game was excellent and her composure on the ball ensured the holding midfielder halted plenty of the English attacking prowess. 

JOHN READ TROPHY

England and the Republic of Ireland usually play out a stand alone game for the John Read Trophy. But the pandemic has curtailed that fixture so they contested the honours this afternoon in their Bob Docherty Cup tie.

The last time the girls met was on March 8, 2020 just before the pandemic. England won 2-1 in FAI HQ, Abbotstown to claim the title that afternoon. But Berkeley got his hands on the silverware yet again having held it in 2018 and 2019. Can he and his team produce another fine performance in the next two games to secure the double!

Previous encounters with England vs Republic of Ireland in the John Read Trophy

OTHER GROUP GAMES

In the other group game, Scotland and England B played out a one all draw. Scotland winning out on penalties to grab a bonus point. Should the teams end the group games, level, this bonus point will take effect.

NEXT CHALLENGE

Next up for the Republic of Ireland is Northern Ireland. The last time these two sides met was at the end of February in Midgley Park, Belfast when the hosts won 2-1 in a highly competitive outing. Northern Ireland will want to bounce back from their opening day defeat to England and the Republic will want to ensure a top spot in the group table.

The other group game tomorrow will see Scotland and Wales face off. All games kick off at 4pm.

The tournament will conclude on Thursday morning with games kicking off at 11am. Winners of group A and B will play-off while second play in group A and B will take to the field and third in their respective group feature in the final series of games. 

UNDER-15 GIRLS’ REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS  | Clodagh FITZGERALD (Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig), Lucy O’ROURKE (St. Mary’s College, Naas), Emma MEANEY (Ardscoil Mhuire, Corbally),

Kayla MAGUIRE (Kingswood Community College), Chloe WALLACE (Coláiste Nano Nagle, Sexton Street, Limerick), Emma DUFFY (Davitt College, Castlebar), Hannah HEALY © (Holy Faith Secondary School, Clontarf), Orlaith DOHERTY (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar), Shauna SHEAHAN (Mount Mercy College, Cork), Kiera SENA (Coláiste an Chraoibín, Fermoy), Lauryn McCABE (Tallaght Community School)

SUBS USED  | Cache CRUMLISH (Carndonagh Community School) for Sena (49), Keeva FLYNN (St. Mary’s Secondary School, Ballina) for Meaney (49), Clodagh DALY (St. Mary’s Secondary School, Nenagh) for Sheahan (57), Emily FITZGERALD (Coláiste Iognaid, Galway) for Healy (57), Leah McGRATH (St. Anne’s Secondary School, Tipperary),

SUBS NOT USED | Amy TIERNEY (John the Baptist Community School, Limerick), Hollie HOMAN (St. Angela’s College, Cork)

MANAGEMENT STAFF | Head Coach Richard Berkeley (Sancta Maria College, Louisburgh)Coach Katie McCarthy (Coláiste na Toirbhírte, Bandon), 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 Denise Callaghan

ENGLAND SCHOOLS | Stowell, Freeman, Young, Wellesely-Smith, Randall ©, Pomfret, Endacott, Jai-Bonwick Cassap, Boothroyd, McEwen

SUBS USED | Baker for Jai-Bobwick (44), Cadell for Wellesley-Smith (49), Tickle for McEwen (59), Gaitely for Randall (59), Byrom for Boothroyd (59)

SUBS NOT USED Harrison, Fisher

MATCH OFFICIAL | Peter Osgood

RESULTS

Sunday, April 10

England 4-0 Northern Ireland

England 2 1-0 Wales

Monday, April 11

Scotland 1-1 England 2 Scotland won on pens

Republic of Ireland 4-1 England

FIXTURES

Tuesday, April 12 | KO 4pm

Northern Ireland vs Republic of Ireland

Scotland vs Wales

Wednesday, April 13 | Free Day

Thursday, April 14 | KO 11am

3^rd Group A vs 3^rd Group B

2^nd Group A vs 2^nd Group B

1^st Group A vs 1^st Group B

Bob Docherty Cup | Roll of Honour

END