Under 15 Girls’ Interprovincial Tournament
Dr. Fionnuala Quigley Memorial Trophy
Monday, November 22, 2021
MUNSTER claimed the Under 15 Girls’ Interprovincial crown with a slender 1-0 victory over a tenacious Connacht side in the AUL Complex, Clonshaugh yesterday afternoon (Sunday, November 21).
A solidarity goal from Shauna SHEAHAN (Mount Mercy College, Cork) in the sixth minute was enough to secure top spot. The Cork scholar had a brilliant campaign netting in each of their three fixtures.
It was ten years since Munster last clinched the prestigious competition when Megan CONNOLLY (Christ King Girls’ SS, Cork) captained the side to victory with Lorraine COUNIHAN (Coláiste Mhuire, Buttevant) as Head Coach.
This time around it was Presentation SS, Thurles teacher Barry RYAN that led his side to the top with a unbeaten record in the tournament with five goals scored and only one conceded in the three outings. Munster and Leinster finished the tournament with five points apiece but the superior goal difference from Munster landed them the silverware.
The 2021 achievement marked Munster’s seventh title win in the 26 year history of the tournament. The Southerners first won the tournament back in 2000, then again in 2003 and went on a riot with a three in-a-row in 2006, 2007 and 2008. They had to wait until 2011 for their last win until yesterday. One man that has been there from the start is Richard GRIMES of St. Caimin’s Community School, Shannon. Richard has given an immense contribution to schools football over the years. It was a fitting tribute to his commitment that the players and management staff were able to get over the line in a wonderful showcase of schools football from all the players involved.
MATCH DAY THREE
Earlier in the morning Leinster faced Ulster in the penultimate fixture of the weekend which saw Aoibhe BRENNAN (Coláiste Pobail Setanta College, Clonsilla) notch out the match winner nine minutes from time.
The win ensured five points for Leinster so Munster knew they required a win to guarantee the title on goal difference as they faced off against a competent Connacht side.
In a highly entertaining encounter, it was Munster who got the dream start when the ever reliable Sheahan stepped up to slot past the Connacht keeper with just six minutes on the clock. It turned out to be the match winner as neither side could impact the score line in the second half despite a period of dominance from each team late on.
POTM
Roby MURRAY of Loreto College, Crumlin was announced as the Player of the Match in the Leinster vs Ulster showpiece with Áine O’Gorman in attendance to present the accolade. Áine played in the same tournament in 2004, representing Loreto, Bray with Leinster winning out that season. The Bray youngster starred for the Republic of Ireland Schools that same year.
In the Munster vs Connacht game, it was Amy TIERNEY, John the Baptist Community School, Limerick who was named as the Player of the Match with International Schools Coach, Emma Mullin presenting the award.
MATCH DAY TWO
The Saturday afternoon fixtures saw Munster claim the two points over Ulster. It was scoreless in the first half but Munster stepped up a gear as Shauna SHEAHAN (Mount Mercy College, Cork) netted on 42 minutes. This was followed up nine minutes later when Leah McGRATH (St. Anne’s Secondary School, Tipperary) got in to double their tally and moments later Kiera SENA (Coláiste an Chraoibhín, Fermoy) made it 3-0.
The later game, severed up a seven goal thriller as Leinster advanced 3-2 over Connacht in a ding-dong battle.
Leinster could have been two up inside the first 90 seconds but it was Kayla MAGUIRE (Kingswood Community College) who converted in the sixth minute, shortly followed up by Hannah HEALY (Holy Faith Secondary School, Clontarf) three minutes later to give Ellison’s side a 2-0 lead.
However Connacht dragged a goal back midway through the first half with a belter of a freekick from Emily FITZGERALD (Coláiste Iognaid) 25 yards out.
Jasmine GREANEY (Dominican College, Taylor’s Hill) equalised four minutes from the break with a sweet lob on the edge of the box.
Not to be outdone, Leinster took the lead once again, just before the interval to make it 3-2 at half time with Keelin DODD (Coláiste Chraobh Abhann, Kilcoole) scoring a screamer from distance to the top corner.
The same explosion of goals was not evident in the second thirty but the passion and desire was evident with both teams unfortunate not to convert especially given the late pressure executed by Connacht.
POTM
In the Munster vs Ulster fixture, it was Leah McGRATH of St. Anne’s Secondary School in Tipperary that was named Player of the Match by the Republic of Ireland Schools Head Coach Richard Berkeley.
The Republic of Ireland Women’s Senior Manager Vera Pauw was present to announce Hannah HEALY (Holy Faith Community School, Clontarf) as the Player of the Match in the Leinster vs Connacht encounter.
MATCH DAY ONE
The opening goal of the 2021 Interprovincial series was scored by Munster dynamo Shauna SHEAHAN (Mount Mercy College, Cork) three minutes into the second half of their clash with 2019 winners Leinster.
It was a fantastic spectacle which lived up to the billing. Leinster’s resilience prevailed in the second minute of injury time to clinch a last gasp equaliser courtesy of St. Andrew’s College starlet Anna BUTLER. The youngster lobbed the onrushing keeper from just inside the box to grab a well worked equaliser. Munster may of felt slightly aggrieved not to secure the win, but all in all, a well deserved point apiece.
It was Connacht who secured the bragging rights over Ulster in the second game of Friday evening. A Emily FITZGERALD(Coláiste Iognaid) goal eleven minutes into the second half was the deceive factor in another nip and tuck battle between these top class outfits.
POTM
Munster’s Chloe WALLACE (Coláiste Nano Nagle, Limerick) and Connacht’s Emma DUFFY (Davitt College, Castlebar) secured the silverware with Republic of Ireland Under 17 Women’s Head Coach, James Scott and past player for Ulster & Republic of Ireland Ciara Grant announcing the Player of the Match accolades.
YOUNG GUNS
The majority of players on display this weekend were 2007s. But there were a few young guns selected that could be eligible for call up again next season. Munster and Connacht have 5 students while Leinster have 4 and Ulster have 2.
Munster Captain Chloe Wallace of Coláiste Nano Nagle in Limerick is an ‘08 as is her colleagues Emma Meaney (Ardscoil Mhuire, Corbally), Leah McGrath (St. Anne’s SS, Tipperary), Ciara O’Driscoll (Carrigaline Community School) and Grace Hogan (St. Ailbe’s School, Tipperary). What a title defence we will have on the cards!
Connacht will have Jessica Talbot (Coláiste na Coiribe), Ava Mullins (Calasanctius College, Oranmore), Mairead McIntyre (Ursuline College, Sligo), Rowan Edwards (Coláiste Iognaid) and Lesley Ann Sweeney (Coláiste Mhuire, Ballymote) all in contention.
Leinster will also see Carla Muldoon (St. Mac Dara’s CC), Ella Kelly (Tallaght CS), Anna Butler (St. Andrew’s College, Blackrock) and Olivia Meighan (Gaelcholáiste Reachrann, Donaghmede) all up for selection.
While Sarah McCaffrey (Largy College, Clones) and Aisling Mugan (Deele College, Raphoe) hoping for another call up in 2022.
INTERNATIONAL SELECTION
As well as provincial honours this weekend, the International management staff use this tournament as the key recruiting tool for their Republic of Ireland Schools select.
Speaking at the tournament yesterday, Richard Berkeley and his staff were highly impressed with the standard of football on display. The work from all four provinces has been immense and he paid tribute to the provincial management staff for their huge endeavours in the build up to the tournament.
Following the tournament, an extended panel will be invited back for trial on Saturday, December 18 in Dublin. Berkeley and his staff will have a difficult task to whittle the 68 players down to an panel of 32 to attend the initial assessment day.
INTERPROVINCIAL PANELS
CONNACHT | Sophie Quinn, Rachel McGoldrick, Mairead McIntyre (Ursuline College, Sligo), Keeva Flynn (St. Mary’s Secondary School, Ballina), Jessica Talbot, Zainab Rather, Caitlin Joyce (Coláiste na Coiribe, Baile na mBúrcach), Ava Mullins (Calasanctius College, Oranmore), Emma Duffy (Davitt College, Castlebar), Kayla Doherty (Jesus & Mary Secondary School, Gortnor Abbey), Emily Fitzgerald, Rowan Edwards (Coláiste Iognáid, Galway), Katie Heaney (St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Castlebar), Kerri O’Driscoll (Presentation College, Athenry), Jasmine Greaney (Dominican College, Taylor’s Hill), Lesley Ann Sweeney (Coláiste Muire, Ballymote), Eadie Ryan (Presentation College, Tuam)
MANAGEMENT | Dom Coll (Presentation College, Athenry) Stephen Lacken (St. Patrick’s College, Lacken Cross), Seamus MacEachmharcaigh (Sacred Heart School, Westport), Caroline Ní Ghriofa (Coláiste na Coiribe, Baile na mBúrcach)
ULSTER | Amy Doherty (Coláiste Ailigh, Leitir Ceanainn), Orla Malseed, Eabha Daly (Loreto Secondary School, Letterkenny), Vanessa Wochnik (Magh Ene College, Bundoran), Heidi Gill (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Sine Ryan, Orla Doherty (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar), Niamh Ryan (Finn Valley College, Stranorlar), Maryann Ward (Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair), Maeve Brady (Loreto Community School, Milford), Sarah McCaffrey (Largy College, Clones), Cache Crumlish (Carndonagh Community School), Muireann Daly (St. Aidan’s Comprehensive School, Cootehill), Sophie Canning, Ashling Mugan, Tiana Hannigan (Deele College, Raphoe), Sara Thomas (Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town)
MANAGEMENT | Paddy McDaid (Finn Valley College, Stranorlar), Kaneshia McKinney (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Nicola McDaid, Shane Bradley.
LEINSTER | Annie O’Brien (Assumption Secondary School, Walkinstown), Lucy O’Rourke (St. Mary’s College, Naas), Aoife McDermott (Palmerstown Community School), Kayla Maguire (Kingswood Community College), Keelin Dodd (Coláiste Chraobh Abhann, Kilcoole), Carla Muldoon (St. MacDara’s Community College), Aoibhne Brennan (Coláiste Pobail Setanta College, Clonsilla), Hannah Healy (Holy Faith Secondary School, Clontarf), Robyn Gleeson (Loreto College, Crumlin), Lauryn McCabe, Ella Kelly (Tallaght Community School), Isabelle Baker (Larkin Community College), Caoimhe Connaughton (Coláiste Íosagáin, Portarlington), Freya Healy (Newbridge College), Anna Butler (St. Andrew’s College, Blackrock), Olivia Meighan (Gaelcholaiste Reachrann), Savannah Kane (Mount Carmel Secondary School)
MANAGEMENT | Rob Ellison (St. Raphaela's SS, Stillorgan), Scott Gaynor (Presentation SS, Wexford) Rachel Graham (FAI), Jessie Stapleton (Palmerstown CS), Lauryn O’Callaghan (IT Carlow)
MUNSTER | Clodagh Fitzgerald (Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig), Zoe Finnerty (Bishopstown Community School), Ava McAuliffe (St. Mary’s High School, Midleton), Chloe Wallace (Coláiste Nano Nagle, Sexton St. Limerick), Emma Meaney (Ardscoil Mhuire, Corbally), Amy Tierney (John The Baptist Community School), Clodagh Daly (St. Mary’s Secondary School, Nenagh), Mannie Murray (St. Vincent’s Secondary School, Cork), Leah McGrath (St. Anne’s Secondary School, Tipperary), Shauna Sheahan (Mount Mercy College, Cork), Kiera Sena (Coláiste an Chraoibhín, Fermoy), Siobhan Deasy (St. Peter’s Community School, Passage West), Ciara O’Driscoll (Carrigaline Community School), Grace Hogan (St. Ailbe’s School, Tipperary), Ciara Curtain (Coláiste Íde agus Iosaf, Abbeyfeale), Jaydine Seward (Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG, Cork), Hollie Homan (St. Angela’s College, Cork)
MANAGEMENT | Barry Ryan (Presentation Secondary School, Thurles), Richard Grimes (St. Caimin’s Community School, Shannon), Leah Cremins (St. Anne’s Secondary School, Tipperary), Amy Costello, Hayley Dewick (St. Ailbe’s School, Tipperary), Jodie Griffin.
Friday, November 19
3.00pm Leinster 1-1 Munster | POTM Chloe WALLACE Coláiste Nano Nagle
5.00pm Connacht 1-0 Ulster | POTM Emma DUFFY, Davitt College, Castlebar
Saturday, November 20
1.00pm Munster 3-0 Ulster | POTM Leah McGRATH St. Anne’s Secondary School, Tipperary
3.00pm Leinster 3-2 Connacht | POTM Hannah HEALY Holy Faith Secondary School, Clontarf
Sunday, November 21
10.30am Leinster 1-0 Ulster | POTM Roybn MURRAY, Loreto College, Crumlin
12.30pm Munster 1-0 Connacht | POTM Amy TIERNEY, John the Baptist Community School, Limerick
|
TEAM |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
PTS |
|
Munster |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
|
Leinster |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
|
Connacht |
3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
-1 |
2 |
|
Ulster |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
5 |
-5 |
0 |
Girls’ Interprovincial Tournament Roll of Honour
*Senior U18
|
YEAR |
WINNER |
VENUE |
|
1994 |
Leinster |
Our Lady of Mercy College, Beaumont (vs Connacht) |
|
1995 |
Leinster |
*Longford Town FC (4 Provinces) |
|
1996 |
Connacht |
*Ballinasloe, Galway |
|
1997 |
Leinster |
*Ballinasloe, Galway |
|
1998 |
Leinster |
*Wilson’s Hospital School, Multyfarnham |
|
1999 |
Leinster |
*Wilson’s Hospital School, Multyfarnham |
|
2000 |
Munster |
*Athlone |
|
2001 |
Leinster |
*Dangain, Galway |
|
2002 |
Leinster |
*Clare |
|
2003 |
Munster |
Clare (Current U15 level) |
|
2004 |
Leinster |
Athlone |
|
2005 |
Leinster |
Athlone |
|
2006 |
Munster |
Athlone |
|
2007 |
Munster |
Athlone |
|
2008 |
Munster |
Athlone |
|
2009 |
Leinster |
Tullamore/Athlone |
|
2010 |
Ulster |
Tullamore/Athlone |
|
2011 |
Munster |
Tullamore/Athlone |
|
2012 |
Leinster |
Tullamore/Athlone |
|
2013 |
Leinster |
AUL Complex, Clonshaugh |
|
2014 |
Leinster |
AUL Complex, Clonshaugh |
|
2015 |
Leinster |
AUL Complex, Clonshaugh |
|
2016 |
Leinster |
AUL Complex, Clonshaugh |
|
2017 |
Connacht |
AUL Complex, Clonshaugh |
|
2018 |
Leinster |
AUL Complex, Clonshaugh |
|
2019 |
Leinster |
AUL Complex, Clonshaugh |
|
2020 |
N/A |
COVID-19 |
|
2021 |
Munster |
AUL Complex, Clonshaugh |