Gallagher confident of victory in Belfast
6 April 2009
International Schools Manager, Michael Gallagher will travel to Belfast today ahead of the Girls International Bob Docherty Tournament which will take place in the Billy Neill Complex, Belfast from 7-9 April 2009
Gallagher had one late change to the panel with experienced goalkeeper Amanda Budden of Cork withdrawing from the squad due to injury. She will be replaced by Fiona Callen of Monaghan who will be joining Ulster colleague Gemma McGuinness of Moville, Donegal.
Cork youngsters dominate the line up with six out of the eighteen players selected namely, Laura Lynch, Denise O’Sullivan, Amy Wilson, Clare Shine, Lauren Murphy and Rebecca Kearney
Dublin have five players involved with Erica Cahill accompanied by Raheny club mates Niamh Walsh and Lauren Ebbs as well as Emma Russell of Killiney and Chloe Mustaki of Clonskeagh who also play their club football for St. Joseph’s.
Kearney and Cahill make a welcome return to the squad as they formed a vital part of the successful team which captured the title last season under the leadership of Roscommon native Michael Gallagher.
The other influential players include Abbeyleix goalkeeper Nicole Cranny, Aine Bennett of Eureka Kells, Galway’s Shauna Jackson, Waterford’s Zoe O’Donoghue, Drogheda’s Shauna Newman and Ulster duo Gemma McGuinness and Fiona Callen.
The Irish have an air of confidence travelling to this tournament as they have captured the crown no less than four times since its inception in 2002. The girls won the opening event in Ballymena and also won in 2005 when the event returned to the North and then again for the third time in 2007 when they travelled to Wales. The highlight for the Irish was a win on home soil with victory in Galway last year.
Scotland is the only other nation to have won the title and they last won it in 2006 so they will be seeking to avenge last year’s defeat to Ireland.
The girls take on Scotland in their opening game of the tournament on Tuesday 7 April (3pm). They will be looking to make a positive start to their campaign as they face Wales on Wednesday 8 April (3pm) and Northern Ireland on Thursday 9 April (11am).
The trophy is named after Robert Docherty who has served Scottish Schools and the International Schools Football Board (SAFB) with distinction for many years.
Republic of Ireland: Fiona Callen, Inver College Monaghan, Shauna Newman St. Oliver’s Drogheda, Chloe Mustaki The French School, Clonskeagh, Laura Lynch Mount Mercy of Cork, Erica Cahill Ballymun Comprehensive, Denise O’Sullivan Terence McSweeney Cork, Amy Wilson North Presentation Cork, Zoe O’Donoghue St Declan’s Waterford, Clare Shine Regina Mundi Cork, Rebecca Kearney Colaiste Choilm Cork, Lauren Murphy Carrigaline Community School Cork, Niamh Walsh Santa Sabina, Dublin, Lauren Ebbs Manor House Dublin, Shauna Jackson Holy Rosary Galway, Aine Bennett Eureka Kells, Nicole Cranny, Heywood Community School, Emma Russell Holy Child Killiney, Gemma McGuinness Moville Community College
MANAGEMENT TEAM: Manager: Michael Gallagher, Summerhill College, Athlone, Assistant Manager: Margaret Mulhall, Moville Community School, Coach: Dave Collins, Alexandra College, Dublin, GK Coach: Emma Merrigan, Physio: Brona Walsh, Team Doctor: Dr. Natalia Bratu
Fixtures:
7 April Republic of Ireland v Scotland @ 3pm
8 April Republic of Ireland v Wales @ 3pm
9 April Republic of Ireland v Northern Ireland @ 11am
Billy Neill Complex, Belfast