U15 Girls’ Interprovincial Tournament

Dr. Fionnuala Quigley Memorial Trophy

Connacht & Leinster enter Match Day 2 of Interprovincial series with slight advantage

Saturday, November 18, 2017

As Match Day 2 approaches we review the action from the opening series of games as Connacht and Leinster secured top spot heading into their penultimate outings this afternoon

Connacht were in seventh heaven against Ulster as a nine goal thriller was played out in the impressive surrounds of the AUL Complex on Friday afternoon.

Oughterard student Anna Fahey secured a Player of the Match performance when she netted four times in their 7-2 destruction of the 2010 Champions. Perhaps the score-line slightly flattered the Westerners as Ulster played some fine football in periods of the game.

The start of the goal frenzy was registered initially on eight minutes at Presentation College, Athenry pupil Saoirse Healey opened their account with some silky skills in the box to side step an Ulster defender to fire the ball into the bottom corner.

St. Paul’s SS starlet Fahey was on hand to double their advantage seven minutes later to give her side some breathing space. A brace was complete on 17 minutes when she converted her second of the day and Connacht’s third.

Ulster’s Emma Doherty clawed one back seconds later to make it 3-1. It was impossible to keep up with the action as chance after chance was created in front of goal.

Connacht went in at the break 4-1 up as Fahey turned supplier for the talented Shauna Brennan (Claregalway College)

Fahey completed her hat-trick with 9 minutes on the clock in the second period. This was followed up with her fourth three minutes later to make it 6-1.

Ulster kept up their attacking prowess and were rewarded for their hard work as Captain Erin McLaughlin of Carndonagh CS set up Moville pocket rocket Kerry Brown to make it 6-2. A wonderful manoeuvre from the duo which saw the youngster hit the top corner with perfection.

The final goal in this exciting outing came two minutes from time as Gort’s Abbie Callanan converted nicely to end 7-2 to Dom Coll’s crew. A very positive start for the Province, could this be their year to take the elusive title?

A masterclass from the Connacht side who will surely impress again when they prepare for Munster in their second test.   Richard Grimes’ charges will still be stinging from their narrow defeat to Leinster so a red-hot display with be on the cards for day 2.

The other game later that evening saw a tense battle ensue between two gifted teams as reigning Champions Leinster took on 2011 stars Munster in a delightful showcase.

Rachel McGrath was the hero for Rob Ellison’s troops on 39 minutes as the Rathcoole scholar latched onto a high ball over the top courtesy of the amazing Jessie Stapleton who made no mistake to finish confidently.

A solidarity goal the only difference between these two top sides.

Stapleton a First Year student in Palmerstown Community School merited the Player of the Match accolade following her interception of an Aoife Horgan goal-bound shot as she dramatically cleared the danger to keep the sides scoreless five minutes from the interval. In addition to her assist in the second half to set up her colleague McGrath for the match winner.

All eyes will be on their fixture with Ulster who are desperate to keep their title ambitions alive. Bridgeen Harley’s girls need to win tomorrow to stand any chance of an exciting finale to their campaign on Sunday.

Leinster will need the same focus and composure that they demonstrated against Munster to take anything from this contest. A win for Ellison’s side will surely set up a tantalising tie on Sunday with favourities Connacht. 

It’s all to play for as the four teams battle for Interprovincial successes and an opportunity to impress the International management staff in attendance as they attempt to make the progression to the Bob Docherty panel for 2018.

Best of luck to all 68 players involved in this weekend’s Interprovincial Tournament.

INTERPROVINCIAL PANELS

LEINSTER | Emma Ring (Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan), Shannon Guildea (Drogheda Grammar School), Jodie McQuillan (Beaufort College, Navan), Abby McHugh (Dunshaughlin Community School), Abby Clarke (Muckross Park College, Donnybrook), Jessie Stapleton (Palmerstown Community School), Ellen Molloy (Presentation Secondary School, Kilkenny), Della Doherty (Coláiste Iosagain, Portarlington), Ella Maree (St. Brendan’s Community School, Bray),  Zoe Leonard (Hartstown Community School), Rachel McGrath (Holy Family Community School, Rathcoole), Lucy Edwards (Maryfield College, Drumcondra), Maria Reynolds (Loreto Abbey, Dalkey), Sophie Murray (Loreto College, St. Stephen’s Green), Jess Lawlor (Coláiste Lorcain, Castledermot), Rugile Askainyte (St. Mary’s Holy Faith Convent, Glasnevin), Aoife O’Leary (St. Mark’s Community School, Tallaght)

MANAGEMENT | Rob Ellison (St. Raphaela’s SS, Stillorgan), Clare Kinsella & Mags Doyle (Coaches), Scott Gaynor (Presentation College, Wexford)

MUNSTER | Leah Hayes Coen (Scoil Mhuire agus Ide, Newcastle West), Emma Barrett (Scoil Pól, Kilfinane), Robin Carey (Coláiste Dán Iascaigh, Cahir), Ellen Casey & Emma O’Donohue (Coláiste Muire, Ennis),  Aoibheann Clancy (Presentation Secondary School Thurles), Aoife Horgan (St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Ballybunion), Aisling Kelly (Presentation Secondary School, Listowel), Kelly Leahy (Coláiste an Chroi Naofa, Cork), Emer McCarthy (Cashel Community School), Nicole McNamara, Ciara Houlihan & Anna Mullane (Coláiste na Trócaire, Rathkeale), Mia O’Connell (Coláiste Muire, Cobh) Naomi O’Shaughnessy (Ennis Community College), Eve O’Sullivan (Salesian Secondary College, Pallaskenry),  Caoimhe Riordan (Coláiste Íde agus Iosef, Abbeyfeale)

MANAGEMENT |Richard Grimes & Andrew Russell (St. Caimin’s Community School, Shannon), Barry Ryan (Presentation Secondary School, Thurles) Carys Johnson (Glanmire Community College), Stephen Quinn (Coach)

CONNACHT | Chellene Trill, Shauna Brennan, Hannah Walsh & Kate Slevin (Claregalway College), Theresa Kinnevey & Anna Fahey (St. Paul’s Secondary School, Oughterard), Sarah Kiernan & Helen Monaghan (Ursuline College, Sligo), Annie Gough (Jesus & Mary SS, Gortnor Abbey), Muireann Devaney (St. Clare’s Comprehensive School, Manorhamilton), Kate O’Dowd (St. Nathy’s College, Ballaghaderreen), Saoirse Healey (Presentation College, Athenry), Erin Taheny (St. Mary’s College, Ballysadare), Abbie Callanan (Gort Community School), Emer O’Neill (St. Louis Community School, Kiltimagh), Aoibheann Costello (Scoil Bhríde, Mercy SS, Tuam), Amy Mahon (St. Joseph’s Community College, Charlestown)

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 | Orla Corry & Kelsey McAteer (Loreto Community School, Milford), Katelyn Doherty, Aoife Gallinagh, Louise Gallinagh & Emma Doherty (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Rachel Lawne & Caoimhe Brennan (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar), Kate Toland (Deele College, Raphoe), Shannon Cunningham & Erin Doherty (Coláiste Ailigh, Leitir Ceanainn) Lucy Jane Grant (Loreto College, Cavan), Ciara McGarvey (Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola, Falcarragh), Kerry Brown (Moville Community College), Erin McLaughlin (Carndonagh Community School), Jessica Lesse (St. Catherine’s Vocational School, Killybegs), Maria Bonner (St. Columba’s Comprehensive School, Glenties)

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

RESULTS & FIXTURES

Friday, November 17

Ulster 2-7 Connacht

Leinster 1-0 Munster

Saturday, November 18

1.00pm Ulster v Leinster

2.30pm Connacht v Munster

Sunday, November 19

10.00am Munster v Ulster

11.30am Connacht v Leinster

Girls’ Interprovincial Tournament Roll of Honour

END