The Girls Interprovincial Tournament will take place this weekend November 11 to 13, 2011 in the midlands: The tournament will see the first and second round of games played at Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon while Sunday’s fixtures will be played at Athlone Town FC
The Interprovincial series is the first step in the process of selecting the FAI Schools U15 International squad for next year’s Bob Docherty Tournament so as well as provincial honours; there is plenty at stake with sixty eight of the top players in Irish schools taking part:
Ulster will be entering the series as reigning Champions having narrowly defeated the impressive Munster outfit: The northerners will hope to retain the title under new manager Jerry Casey, Crana College: The Kerry native is very aware of the threat posed by his competitors but has the confidence in his side to do well at the weekend following some of his player’s recent successes at the Gaynor Cup playing for Inishowen and Donegal respectively:
The team will be strengthened by the return of trio Saorla McGarrigle (Loreto SS, Letterkenny), Roma McLaughlin and Sarah Jane McDonald (both Moville CC): The three players will definitely play a starring role in Ulster’s performances as they kick off against Connacht in the second game on Friday evening in Tullamore (KO 4:30pm):
Casey will be assisted by his backroom staff, which consists of the experienced Nakita Burke (Errigal College) who was part of the winning management team in 2010 and debutant Bridgeen Harley of Bailieborough Community School:
Moville Community College has six students represented with Stacey Doherty, Sarah Jane McDonald, Eimear Reddin, Aine Breslin, Nicole McDermott and Roma McLaughlin all participating: Their selection is well merited having clinched Junior and Minor All Ireland titles last year: Crana College secured the First Year Cup and as a result have three players making the cut namely Shannon Devlin, Alison McGonagle and Aimee Casey:
Deele College will see Zoe McGlynn line out for the northern province while Carndonagh will be honoured by the appearance of Nicole Gordon
Defender Saorla McGarrigle’s school Loreto, Letterkenny won the prestigious All Ireland Senior crown and deserves a call up again:
Cavan’s pairing of Hannah Duggan and Michella Gaffney both of Loreto College in the town will be itching to make an impact in the three day series as will Breifne College youngster Shannon Hyland who is named in the panel:
Milford’s duo of Shannon McBride and Laurn McElwaine look like a promising prospect and will hope to have a dominate presence in Casey’s plans:
Connacht Manager, Dom Coll will note the scoring ability of the Ulster side as they notched up 14 goals in 3 games last season only conceding four times : Coll will instil confidence in his players having secured a 2/2 draw with the opposition last time around: He will be all out to take full points of Casey’s contingency:
Connacht’s Eleanor Stafford (Seamount College), Evvie Lowndes (Colaiste Iognaid), Aoife Connolly and goalkeeper Caoimhe O’Reilly (both Our Lady’s Bower SS) will line out again this season and will relish the opportunity to impress the International management of Jason Carey (St: MacDara’s, Templeogue) and Richelle O’Neill (Colaiste Choilm, Tullamore)
Seamas MacEachmharcaigh, Sacred Heart School and Sean Boland, Scoil Mhuire gan Smal are returning to assist the Connacht management setup: The successful pair has been involved in schools football for many years with their respective schools doing well in Connacht over the years: Munster and Leinster have tasted provincial success in recent years and MacEachmharcaigh and Boland would only be delighted if it was the hosts that collected the title in 2011:
The Connacht crew sees a wealth of talent from across the province with Athlone, Salthill, Castlebar, Kinvara, Oranmore, Wesport, Sligo, Roscommon and Galway City all involved: The girls will definitely be looking forward to their opening clash with the reigning Champions as it should prove the ultimate test for the weekend ahead:
Domincian College colleague’s Aoife Walshe and Anesi Igunma will pose a real threat as well as Kate Melly (Mercy College, Sligo) and Grainne Egan (Ursuline College, Sligo)
The mighty Munster side have an excellent record in this tournament and the most recent victory was in 2008 under the leadership of Richard Grimes: The three year absence in silverware will play heavy on the minds of the backroom staff: This consists of Head Coach Lorraine Counihan who was at the reigns last season and will be looking to go one better this time around: Assistant Head Coach Claire Wehrley will return to the fold having played a vital role in the International setup last season which saw the Republic of Ireland perform heroically in the Bob Docherty Cup: Veteran’s Richard Grimes and Eric Nelligan are a welcome addition to the team as they go in search of the silverware:
Rebecca Noonan (St: Mary’s SS, Charleville), Megan Connolly (Christ the King Girls SS) and Jessica Glavin (Blackwater CS, Lismore) will return this season to guide their less experienced colleagues in what should prove a pulsating contest as they kick off against Leinster in the opening game in Tullamore at 3pm Friday: Indeed Connolly is making her third consecutive appearance at this tournament which is an outstanding achievement for the College Corinthians star:
Lismore, Newport, Roscrea, Ballincollig, Glanmire, Blarney, Douglas, Charleville, Thurles, Listowel, Nenagh and Ferrybank will all see players represented:
Netminders Roisin Cahillane (Blackwater CS) and Christine Coffey (Presentation SS, Thurles) will be looking to impress between the posts as three games in quick concession will see both players line out in equal measure:
Lakewood Athletic club mates Ciara Nevin, Lydia Looney and Evelyn Daly will use their camaraderie to unite the team as neighbouring schools come together to win provincial honours:
Leinster’s Paul Howard remains at the helm accompanied by newcomers Alistair Harvey (St: Kilian’s DSD) and Cerrie Byrne (Ardgillan CC) as they line out to out manoeuvre their counterparts:
Kilkenny’s Jenny Clifford and colleague Kirsty Maher will make Loreto SS proud as will Sophie Gleeson of Alexandra College’s call up to the squad a well deserved shout:
Youngsters Keeva Keenan (St: Michael’s SS, Finglas) and Shianne Swarres (Eureka SS, Kells) are called in for a second term: The latter a well experienced player having collected an All Ireland Senior medal with her school last year: The sportswoman is a gifted player who may well play a central figure in the Leinster attack:
The very successful Peamount FC has five club mates starring namely Hayley R: Nolan, Eleanor Ryan Doyle, Chloe Murphy, Olivia Flanagan and goalkeeper Brooke Dunne while Shelbourne have six players lined out: Lauren Keely, Megan Lynch, Jessica Gargan, Jamie Finn, Shianne Swarres and Courtney Higgins will hope that their familiarity with one another will help bond the team:
Emma Byrne of Our Lady’s Grove will follow in the footsteps of fellow students Amy Corcoran and Avril Brierley as they merited a call up to the International team last season:
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 midlands:
As part of the International trial process, a training squad will be selected by the Irish School’s management team:
This provisional training squad will have several weekend sessions later in the year ahead of the Bob Docherty Tournament which will take place from April 2 to 5, 2011 at the AUL in Dublin
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:
PROVINCIAL PANELS:
CONNACHT: Caoimhe O’Reilly (Our Lady’s Bower SS, Athlone), Aoife Walshe (Dominican College, Taylor’s Hill), Ailbhe O’Regan (Colaiste na Coirbe), Danielle Caldwell (Davitt College, Castlebar), Eleanor Stafford (Seamount College, Kinvara), Roisin Jacob (Calasanctius College, Oranmore), Evvie Lowndes (Colaiste Iognaid), Kate Melly (Mercy College, Sligo), Dearbhail Byrne (Mohill Community College), Mary Corcoran (Sacred Heart School, Westport), Grainne Egan (Ursuline College, Sligo), Rachael Fitzmaurice (Scoil Muire gan Smal, Convent of Mercy), Meadbh Henneally (Ursuline College, Sligo), Aoife Connolly (Our Lady’s Bower SS, Athlone), Rebecca Rooney (Calasanctius College, Oranmore), Kelly Dunleavy (Jesus & Mary SS, Salerno SS, Galway), Anesi Igunma (Dominican College, Taylor’s Hill)
Management: Dom Coll, Head Coach (Presentation College, Athenry), Seamus Mac Eachmharcaigh, Coach (Sacred Heart School, Westport), Sean Boland, Coach and Sarah Farragher, Coach (both Scoil Muire gan Smal, Convent of Mercy)
ULSTER: Aimee Casey (Crana College, Buncrana), Saorla McGarrigle (Loreto Secondary School, Letterkenny), Shannon Devlin (Crana College, Buncrana), Stacey Doherty (Moville Community College), Sarah Jane McDonald (Moville Community College), Eimear Reddin (Moville CC), Aine Breslin (Moville CC), Nicole McDermott (Moville CC), Roma McLaughlin (Moville CC), Alison McGonagle (Crana College, Buncrana), Shannon Hyland (Breifne College, Cavan), Lauren McElwaine (Loreto Community School, Milford), Zoe McGlynn (Deele College, Raphoe), Nicole Gordon (Carndonagh Community School), Hannah Duggan (Loreto College, Cavan), Shannon McBride (Loreto Community School, Milford), Michaella Gaffney (Loreto College, Cavan)
Management: Jerry Casey (Crana College), Nakita Burke (Errigal College, Letterkenny), Bridgeen Harley (Bailieborough Community School, Cavan)
MUNSTER: Roisin Cahillane (Blackwater Community School, Lismore), Aisling Regan (St: Mary’s Secondary School, Newport), Amy O’Lehane (Glanmire Community College), Amy McCormack (Laurel Hill Secondary School, Limerick) Chloe Kirwain (Colaiste Phobal, Roscrea), Ciara Nevin (Colaiste Choilm, Ballincollig), Evelyn Daly (Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal, Blarney), Jessica Glavin (Blackwater Community School), Lydia Looney (Colaiste Choilm, Ballincollig), Megan Dennehy (Christ King Girls Secondary School), Megan Connolly (Christ King Girls Secondary School), Rebecca Noonan (St: Mary’s Secondary School, Charleville), Sarah Connolly (Colaiste an Chraoibhin, Cork), Sara McKevitt (Presentation Secondary School, Thurles), Savannah McCarthy (Presentation Secondary School, Listowel), Christine Coffey (Presentation Thurles), Zoe Power (Abbey Community School, Ferrybank)
Management: Lorraine Counihan (Colaiste Mhuire, Buttevant), Claire Wehrley (St: Flannan’s, Ennis) Richard Grimes (St: Caimin’s CS, Shannon), Eric Nelligan (St: Munchin’s College, Limerick), Caroline Counihan and Janet Hughes O’Connell
LEINSTER: Lucy Ashmore (St: Gerard’s School, Bray), Keeva Keenan (St: Michael’s Secondary School, Finglas), Lauren Keely (St: Wolstan’s Community College, Celebridge), Sophie Gleeson (Alexandra College, Milltown), Hayley R Nolan (St: Mary’s Community School, Naas), Eleanor Ryan Doyle (St: Joseph’s College, Lucan), Chloe Murphy (Holy Family Community School, Rathcoole), Kirsty Maher (Loreto Secondary School, Kilkenny), Emma Byrne (Jesus & Mary College, Our Lady’s Grove), Megan Lynch (St: Finian’s Community College, Swords), Jessica Gargan (St: Finian’s Community College, Swords), Jamie Finn (St: Finian’s Community College, Swords), Jenny Clifford (Loreto Secondary School, Kilkenny), Olivia Flanagan (St: Gerard’s School, Bray), Shianne Swarres (Eureka Secondary School, Kells), Brooke Dunne (Holy Family Secondary School, Newbridge), Courtney Higgins (Colaiste Dhulaigh Post Primary School, Coolock)
Management: Paul Howard (Loreto College, Crumlin), Alistair Harvey (St: Kilian’s DSD, Clonskeagh), Cerrie Byrne (Ardgillan Community College)
INTERPROVINCIAL FIXTURES:
Friday, November 11, 2011 (Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore Town FC)
3:00pm Munster v Leinster
4:30pm Ulster v Connacht
Saturday, November 12, 2011 (Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore Town FC)
2:00pm Draw will be made on Friday evening
4:00pm Draw will be made on Friday evening
Sunday, November 13, 2011 (Athlone Town FC)
10:00 TBC
11:30 TBC
BOB DOCHETY TOURNAMENT (Girls International)
April 2 to 5, 2012 in the AUL, Dublin
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