Under 15 Girls' Republic of Ireland loss out to North in Belfast

Monday, February 28, 2022

Scholars come up short in Belfast

Northern Ireland 2-1 Republic of Ireland Schools

Jessica McGuinness (37), Darcie McNeill (75)                    Cache Crumlish (4)

RICHARD BERKELEY’S Schools select saw themselves slump to their first defeat of the season with two late goals in either half to cancel out the Republic’s impressive start in Midgley Park, Belfast on Saturday afternoon last (February 26).

Carndonagh CS starlet Cache CRUMLISH got on the end of a Kiera Sena through ball to slot past Kate Smith in the Northern Ireland goal with just four minutes on the clock to set the Republic of Ireland up nicely.

The hosts equalised just before the interval with a top class set piece from Jessica McGUINNESS to deceive Clodagh Fitzpatrick in the Republic of Ireland net.

A raft of changes from both sides ensued at the break and it left for a cagey start to the second period.

Tallaght Community School scholar Lauryn McCabe came close to testing Isla Mitchell between the posts but the ball just glided over the upright on 69 minutes.

There were calls for VAR deep into the second half with Kiera Sena’s (Coláiste an Chraoibín, Fermoy) effort deemed to have past the goal-line but match official Sam Johnston wasn’t having any of it.   

Northern Ireland then got their second of the afternoon five minutes from time when Darcie McNEILL put the ball past Annie O’Brien.

A lack of match fitness was the Republic of Ireland’s downfall.

The group also lost Freya Healy (Newbridge College) late on in the second half due to injury.

A good run-out for Berkeley’s squad as they prepare for the Bob Docherty Cup in April.

Their next outing is against Galway Women’s 17s in Salthill Devon next Sunday, March 6.

U15 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), Cache CRUMLISH (Carndonagh Community School), Hannah HEALY © (Holy Faith Secondary School, Clontarf), Orlaith DOHERTY (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar), Emily FITZGERALD (Coláiste Iognaid), Kiera SENA (Coláiste an Chraoibín, Fermoy),

SUBS USED | Amy TIERNEY (John the Baptist Community School), Freya HEALY (Newbridge College), Clodagh DALY (St. Mary’s Secondary School, Nenagh), Leah McGRATH (St. Anne’s Secondary School, Tipperary), Annie O’BRIEN (Assumption Secondary School, Walkinstown), Keeva FLYNN (St. Mary’s Secondary School, Ballina), Robyn GLEESON (Loreto College, Crumlin), Lauryn McCABE (Tallaght Community School),

SUBS NOT USED | Sarah McCAFFREY (Largy College, Clones) INJ

NORTHERN IRELAND | Kate Smith, Saorla Gallagher, Laura Dowey, Emma Gardner, Anastasia Stanyte, Jessica McGuinness, Sophie McKnight, Rhianna Murphy, Gracie Conway, Anna Walsh, Lucy Kelly

SUBS USED | Isla Mitchell, Gemma McClelland, Darcie McNeill, Rhianna Breen, Zoe Knox, Eden Donnan

REFEREE | Sam Johnson (Belfast)

Previously Friendly Encounters vs Northern Ireland