FAI Schools Girls’ Interprovincial Tournament (U15) 

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

The U15 Girls’ Interprovincial Tournament will take place this weekend November 11 to 13 in the AUL Complex, Clonshaugh.

The Interprovincial series is the first step in the process of selecting the FAI Schools U15 Girls’ International development squad for next year’s Bob Docherty Cup so as well as provincial honours; there is plenty at stake with sixty eight of the top players in Irish schools taking part.

The Interprovincial series for girls has always been a tight and competitive outing for the four teams involved. The title holders will be looking to achieve something special on Sunday as Leinster are aiming for a five in-a-row this season.

Munster are the only other province to come close to this task when Richard Grimes’ charges completed the treble in 2006, 2007, 2008.

Ulster last won the tournament outright in 2010 while Munster won the following season, 2011.

Connacht came agonisingly close to snatching the title back in 2012, only for Leinster to get an injury time winner courtesy of a converted penalty from Eleanor Ryan Doyle (St. Joseph’s College, Lucan) to take the title in dramatic fashion in Athlone Town FC.

The tournament should prove highly entertaining as recent years have shown and it will be all to play for as the teams do battle in the Capital. There will be 14 notable returns to the series having seen a number of key players feature last season.

One of Leinster’s longest serving players at Interprovincial level, Jessica Ziu will be making her third and final appearance at the tournament this weekend. The Larkin Community College scholar was instrumental in last year’s success story. The experienced duo of Nadine Clare (Loreto SS, Foxrock) and Mia Dodd (Presentation SS, Warrenmount) will also be one’s to watch out for having starred heavily for Howard’s squad last season.

Newcomer Kayla Brady shone in the Aviva when the youngster lined out for St. Mary’s National School, Arva, Cavan in the SPAR FAI Primary School 5s National Finals in 2015. Brady’s school grabbed gold that day winning the Girls ‘A’ section for small schools and it was double celebrations for the superstar as she was awarded the Player of the Tournament accolade to add to their achievements. She will now line out for the Leinster squad as she attends Wilson’s Hospital School in Multyfarnham  

Richard Grimes’ Munster select will have a few familiar faces as Zara Foley (Ballincollig CC), Sophie Liston (Scoil Mhuire agus Ide, Newcastle West), Eabha O’Mahony (Mount Mercy College) and twins Anna & Maura Shine (Tarbert Comprehensive, Kerry) all make a welcome return.

Ulster have five notable players rejoin us from last season with goalkeeper Neve Scanlon (Deele College), Eimear Sweeney (Mulroy College, Milford), and Moville trio Niamh McDonald, Megan Havlin and Kerry Ann Brown all in action. The Ulster boys won their respective Interprovincial tournament last month following a 25 year absence so can mentor Bridgeen Harley record a double for the Ulster outfit on Sunday?

It’s a new look Connacht side that will enter into the competition with the opening game of their campaign against the holders. Goalkeeper Ria McPhilbin of Salerno in Galway will be the only player making a return form last season. Dom Coll will be hoping her experience will have a foothold on proceedings on Friday as their game kicks off at 3pm.

PROVINCIAL PANELS:

LEINSTER: Courtney Maguire (St. Laurence's College, Loughlinstown), Aoife Glennon, (Newbridge College), Mia Dodds (Presentation Secondary School, Warrenmount), Ellie Ferguson (Coláiste na hInse, Laytown), Nadine Clare (Loreto Secondary School, Foxrock), Zoe Leonard (Hartstown Community School), Orla Prendergast (The High School, Rathgar), Taylor White (St. Dominic’s College, Cabra), Nicole Keogh (St. Kilian's CS, Bray),  Jessica Ziu (Larkin CC, Cathal Brugha Street), Chloe Johnson (Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan), Alanna Cassells (St. Joseph's College, Lucan), Emma Crowley (Loreto Secondary School, Beaufort, Dublin), Kayla Brady (Wilson's Hospital School, Multyfarnham), Rebecca Cooke (Portmarnock CS), Abby Shiels (Confey College, Leixlip), Emily Whelan (Ardgillan Community College, Balbriggan)

MANAGEMENT: Paul Howard (Loreto College, Crumlin), Yvonne Nolan (St. Declan’s College, Cabra), Conor Jennings (St. Raphaela’s SS, Stillorgan), Rhianna Jarrett, Jenny Ferrari (both IT Carlow).

MUNSTER: Abby McCarthy (Castletroy College, Limerick), Louise Burke (Coláiste Muire, Cork), Robin Carey (Colaiste Dun Iascaigh, Cahir), Aoibheann Clancy (Presentation Secondary School Thurles), Chloe Collum (Scoil Mhuire Agus Ide, Newcastle West), Lauren Egbulonio (Carrignafoy Community College, Cobh), Zara Foley (Ballincollig Community School), Aoife Horgan (St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Ballybunion), Sophie Liston (Scoil Mhuire Agus Ide, Newcastle West), Emer McCarthy (Cashel Community School), Neema Nyangski (Gaelcholaiste Phort Lairge), Emma O’Donohue (Colaiste Muire Ennis),Eabha O’Mahony (Mount Mercy College, Cork), Anna & Maura Shine (both Tarbert Comprehensive School, Kerry), Maeve Williams (Abbey Community College, Waterford), Rosie Young (St. Caimin’s Community School, Shannon),

MANAGEMENT:Richard Grimes (St. Caimin’s Community School, Shannon, Clare), Carys Johnson, Peter Sullivan, Elaine Whyte (all Coláiste Mhuire, Buttevant), Elaine O’Mahony (North Presentation SS, Cork) Michael Looby (FAI Development Officer), Mark Barry (IT Carlow)

CONNACHT: Ria McPhilbin (Coláiste Iognaid), Chellene Trill & Kate Slevin (both Claregalway College), Kelsey Munroe (Ballinrobe Community School), Aife Haran (Sligo Grammar School), Alva Munnelly (St. Patrick’s College, Lacken Cross), Jane Trehy (Presentation College, Athenry), Emilia Koziel (Dominican College, Taylor Hill), Kate O’Dowd (St. Nathy’s College, Ballaghdereen), Muireann Devanney (St. Clare’s Comprehensive School, Manorhamilton), Anna Fahy (St. Paul’s, Oughterard), Kellie Brennan (Holy Rosary, Mountbellow),Ellen Conlon (Jesus & Mary Secondary School, Salerno), Shauna Brennan (Claregalway), Hana Ueno (St. Louis Community School, Kiltimagh), Abbiegayle Ronayne (Mount St. Michael SS, Claremorris), Ava Keane (Ballinrobe Community School)

MANAGEMENT: Dom Coll (Presentation College, Athenry), Seamas MacEachmharcaigh, Sarah Farragher (both Sacred Heart School, Westport), Seán Boland, Fabienne Cooney (both Meánscoil Muire gan Smál, Convent of Mercy, Roscommon)

ULSTER: Neve Scanlon (Deele College, Raphoe), Aisling Irwin (Loreto College, Milford), Aisling Mc Laughlin (Moville Community College), Katelyn McDaid (Carndonagh Community School), Eimear Sweeney (Mulroy College,  Milford), Danielle Hynd (Loreto College, Milford), Brianna Doherty (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Niamh McDonald, Megan Havlin & Kerry Ann Brown (all Moville Community College), Erin McLaughlin (Carndonagh Community School), Grace McColgan (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Helena McGee (Falcarragh PCC), Beth Doherty (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Ellie White (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar), Niamh Doherty (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Aoife Kelly (Loreto Convent, Letterkenny).

MANAGEMENT: Bridgeen Harley (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar), Emma Duffy (Loreto Convent, Letterkenny), Karen Henry (Mulroy College, Milford)

As part of the International trial process, a training squad will be selected by the Irish School’s management team. Lorraine Counihan, Manager (Coláiste Mhuire, Buttevant), Maureen O’Donnell, Assistant Manager (Deele College, Raphoe), Richard Berkley, Coach (Sancta Maria College, Louisburgh) and David Rooney, Goalkeeping Coach will have a difficult task on their hands with team selection.

The provisional training squad will have several trials, the first commencing on November 19 and then November 26 to whittle down the provisional panel ahead of two International friendly games with Northern Ireland and England.

FAI Schools will play host to the Bob Docherty Cup during the Easter Break, April 9 to 12, 2017 in the AUL Complex.  The International select did extremely well last year in the tournament, capturing runners up spot for a third year. Counihan and her crew will be hoping home advantage will prove decisive this time out.  

In keeping with the long standing tradition of maintaining the interest in the competition until the final matches on Sunday morning, the draw for Saturday and Sunday’s matches will be made following the games on Friday evening

FIXTURES

Friday, November 11

3.00pm Leinster v Connacht

4.30pm Ulster v Munster (under lights)

Saturday, November 12

1.30pm Match 3 Draw to be made on Friday evening

3.00pm Match 4 Draw to be made on Friday evening

Sunday, November 13

10.00am Match 5

11.30am Match 6

Girls’ Interprovincial Tournament Roll of Honour

END