The Girls Interprovincial Tournament will take place this weekend 5 – 7 November, 2010 in the midlands: The tournament will see the first round of games played at Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore on Friday evening while Saturday and Sunday’s fixtures will be played at Willow Park, Athlone:
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 the most experienced side entering the tournament this year with six players making a welcome return: These include Kathy McLaughlin (Moville CC), Nadine Crawford (Loreto Convent SS, Letterkenny), Amber Barrett, Aisling McDermott (both Loreto CS, Milford) and goalkeeper Paula McGrory (Crana College, Buncrana)
The Ulster management team has been revitalised this season with the introduction of Nicola Roache (St: Columbas), Nakita Burke (Colaiste Ailigh) and Margaret Mulhall (Moville CC) taking on the mantel from Buncrana’s Sean McFadden: Indeed Mulhall has International experience having been assistant manager to Michael Gallagher for the past three years alongside Dave Collins of Alexandra College: The Republic of Ireland Schools team had a tremendous record capturing the elusive Bob Docherty Cup twice in their three year tenure: The experience gained by Mulhall at this level will should prove instrumental in Ulster’s success this season:
Ulster have gone with a dominate Donegal contingency: This is well merited as Moville CC are reigning All Ireland School Champions at Minor Level while Ulster Champions at Junior and First Year Level: Loreto Convent, Letterkenny narrowly missed out in their bid for All Ireland stardom when they were defeated by Alexandra College in their semi final appearance last season: Mulroy College were also featured in the Senior B competition with an Ulster title under their belts:
Ulster will rely on the form of Milford student Amber Barrett as she featured in the International panel last season: Barrett will return alongside school friends Aisling Devitt, Orla McAteer and Aisling McDermott:
Goalkeepers Carla McBride (Mulroy College) and returning Paula McGrory (Crana College) will be eager to impress:
Pobalscoil Falcarragh will see Aine Coll line out for the Northerners while St: Columbas will be honoured by the appearance of Caoimhe McMenamin:
Nicola Roche’s charges will open their campaign when they kick off against Munster in the second fixture on Friday afternoon at 6:30pm in Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore:
The very talented Munster outfit have an excellent record in this tournament: Munster have recorded an impressive four consecutive titles in five years but were ousted by Leinster last season so the team will be looking to avenge last year’s defeat at the hands of Paul Howard’s crew:
The Munster selection will be boosted by the return of Cork students Megan Connolly and Ciara MacNamara, Killarney’s Olivia Dawson and St: Vincent’s student Amy O’Connor:
Lorraine Counihan will fill the head coaches’ position in Munster with the absence of Claire Wehrley who has progressed to the International ranks alongside Richelle O’Neill (Colaiste Choilm, Tullamore) and Jason Carey (St: MacDara’s, Templeogue):
The Munster team will be well prepared heading into this tournament with All Ireland First Year Manager, David King of Blackwater CS, Lismore on the sidelines shouting advice: He will be accompanied by veteran Richard Grimes and Vivienne O’Grady in the backroom staff:
The Rebel County have an energised side which feature fourteen new debutants to impress the new International management:
Lismore’s Elaine Looby and Jessica Glavin captained their School to All Ireland success last year so the Munster side will be looking to them to bring their experience to the foe:
It will be interesting to see if the reigning Champions Leinster can continue their winning ways or if the very experienced Connacht can upset their tempo with a cracking game in store to open proceedings:
Leinster will have a point to prove heading into Friday’s clash with Dom Coll’s westerners: Howard will want to ensure his victory last year was not just a once off which should prove a pulsating tie against a well in/form Connacht contingency:
Making a return this year for the Leinster ladies are Ellie Columb (Moyne CS) and Jessica Hunt (Loreto College, Bray):
Two stars from the talented Colaiste Bride, Enniscorthy are Tamara Furlong and Mary Tyrell who led their team to success at Minor and First Year level last season: They will be joined by Wexford colleague Ciara Rossiter of Presentation College:
The Leinster team have a mix of talent which sees players from Wexford, Kells, Longford, Bray, Dundalk, Cabinteely, Ringsend, Finglas, Arklow all participate:
Stephenie Troy, Shainne Swarres, Aoife Robinson and Chelsea Spain will be youngster’s to watch out for as they go in search of the silverware this season:
Connacht will be captained by Ciara Lynagh of Dominican College, Taylor’s Hill as she makes a welcome return to the Interprovincial team: She will be joined by school mate Katie Carter, St: Patrick’s College star Aoileann Collins and Lisa Casserly of Seamount College in Kinvara:
The Dominican College based in Galway have six students lining out this weekend with Aoife Walsh, Alana Moran, Shauna Gallagher, Ciara Lynagh, Katie Carter and Shauna Fox:
Our Lady’s Bower in Athlone will be proud of the selection of duo Caoimhe O’Reilly and Aoife Connolly as they play on home soil on day two and three of the competition:
Dom Coll’s selection sees a wealth of talent from across the country represented with Athenry, Oranmore, Galway City, Castlebar, Sligo, Kinvara, Lacken Cross, Athlone all involved: The girls will definitely be looking forward to their opening clash with Leinster as it should prove the ultimate test for the weekend ahead:
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 11/13 April 2011 in Wales:
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: Saoirse Burke (Presentation College, Athenry), Cadhla Gillen (Colaiste Iognaid), Roisin Jacob (Calasanctius College, Oranmore), Shauna Fox (Dominican College, Taylor’s Hill), Erina Flannary (Davitt College, Castlebar), Katie Carter (Dominican College), Stacy Muldowney (Coola PP School, Sligo), Ciara Lynagh, CAPT (Dominican College), Aoileannn Collins (St: Patrick’s College, Lacken Cross), Lisa Casserly (Seamount College, Kivara), Evvie Lowndes (Colaiste Iognaid) Aoife Connolly (Our Lady’s Bower SS, Athlone), Shauna Gallagher (Dominican College), Eleanor Stafford (Seamount College, Kinvara), Alana Moran (Dominican College), Aoife Walsh (Dominican College), Caoimhe O’Reilly (Our Lady’s Bower SS, Athlone)
Management: Dom Coll, Manager (Presentation College, Athenry), Seamus Mac Eachmharcaigh, Assistant Manager (Sacred Heart School, Westport), Sean Boland, Coach and Sarah Farragher, Assistant Coach (Convent of Mercy, Roscommon)
Ulster: Carla McBride (Mulroy College), Rebekah Henry (Moville CC), Aisling McDevitt (Loreto CS, Milford), Kathy McLaughlin (Moville CC), Saorla McGarrigle (Loreto Convent SS, Letterkenny), Nadine Crawford (Loreto Convent SS, Letterkenny), Eimear Lafferty (Moville CC), Aine McLaughlin (Moville CC), Orla McAteer (Loreto CS, Milford), Amber Barrett (Loreto CS, Milford), Sarah Jane McDonald (Moville CC), Aine Coll (Pobalscoil Falcarragh), Caoimhe McMenamin (St: Columbas College, Stranorlar), Aisling McDermott (Loreto CC, Milford), Paula McGrory (Crana College, Buncrana), Melissa McDermott (Moville CC)
Management: Nicola Roache, (St: Columba’s Collge, Stranorlar), Nakita Burke (Colaiste Ailigh, Letterkenny), Margaret Mulhall (Moville CC)
Munster: Chelsea Noonan (Christ the King Girls SS, Cork), Megan Connolly (Christ the King Girls), Olivia Dawson (St: Brigid’s Killarney), Kate Fitzpatrick, Claire Flanagan (Presentation College, Thurles), Aisling Frawley (St: Angela’s Ursuline Convent, Waterford), Jessica Glavin (Blackwater CS, Lismore), Laura Heffernan (Colaiste Mhuire, Buttevant), Megan Kelleher (St: Mary’s SS, Charleville), Rachel Kelleher (St: Caimin’s CS, Shannon), Shannon Lewis (Colaiste Iosaif, Kilmallock), Elaine Looby (Blackwater CS, Lismore), Ciara MacNamara (Colaiste An Chroi Naofa, Cork), Rebecca Noonan (St: Mary’s SS, Charleville) Amy O’Connor (St: Vincent’s SS, Cork) Michelle O’Regan, Aoife O’Neill
Management: Lorraine Counihan (Colaiste Mhuire, Buttevant), David King (Blackwater CS, Lismore), Richard Grimes (St: Caimin’s CS, Shannon), Vivienne O’Grady
Leinster: Tamara Furlong (Colaiste Bride), Mary Tyrell (Colaiste Bride), Ciara Rossister (Presentation College Wexford), Shainne Swarres (Eureka Kells), Eireann McLaughlin (Bush PP), Stephenie Troy (Riversdale CC), Keeva Keenan (St: Michael’s Finglas), Aoife Robinson (Mater Christi Finglas), Clare Farrell (Mean Scoil Mhuire), Ellie Columb (Moyne CS), Chelsea Spain (Ringsend Technical Institute), Rebekah Carroll (Confey College), Rachel Doyle (St: Joseph’s of Cluny), Georgina Canavan (St: Mary’s College, Arklow), Jessica Hunt (Loreto Bray), Sarah Hechkar (Cabinteely CS), Alannah Kelly (St: Louis, Dundalk)
Management: Paul Howard (Loreto College, Crumlin), Joe Stafford (Skerries Community College), Emma Martin (FAI)
INTERPROVINCIAL FIXTURES:
Friday 5 November (Leah Victoria Park, Tullamore)
5:00pm Leinster v Connacht
6:30pm Munster v Ulster
Saturday 6 November (Willow Park, Athlone)
2:00pm Draw will be made on Friday evening
3:30pm Draw will be made on Friday evening
Sunday 7 November (Willow Park, Athlone)
10:00am Fixtures TBC
11:30am Fixtures TBC
BOB DOCHETY TOURNAMENT (Girls International)
11/13 April 2011 in Wales
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