Preview | Under 15 Girls' Interprovincial Tournament

Under 15 Girls’ Interprovincial Tournament

Dr. Fionnuala Quigley Memorial Trophy

Munster’s title defence commences tomorrow

Thursday, November 17, 2022

The 2022 FAI Schools Under 15 Girls’ Interprovincial series kicks off tomorrow afternoon (Friday, November 18) in the AUL Complex, Clonshaugh.

The three-day tournament will see sixty-eight of the top players in Irish Schools line out from all corners of the Country as they compete for their Province and possibly make the cut for International assessment next month.

This tournament will be the first step in the process of selecting the FAI Schools International Development squad of 18 players who will compete in the Bob Docherty Cup. The 2022/23 campaign will see the Republic of Ireland Schools select travel to Glasgow for this season’s event. The International campaign will take place during the Easter Break from April 2 to 7, 2023.

With this in mind, all eyes will be on the Interprovincial series to scout for the best talent on display within our network of post primary schools. The event will see six matches played with Provinces awarded two points for a win and one point for a draw. The format leaves for an exciting finale in the Sunday morning outings.

An impressive thirteen players will return from last season.

Reigning Champions Munster will have Chloe WALLACE (Coláiste Nano Nagle, Limerick), Emma MEANEY (Ardscoi Mhuire, Corbally), Leah McGRATH (St. Anne’s Secondary School, Tipperary) and Grace HOGAN (St. Ailbe’s School, Tipperary) all starring again for Barry Ryan’s charges.

Connacht also have four players revisiting the Capital with Jessica TALBOT (Coláiste ns Coiribe, Baile na mBúrcach), Ava MULLINS (Calasanctius College, Oranmore), Mairead McINTYRE (Ursuline College, Sligo) and Lesley Ann SWEENEY (Coláiste Muire, Ballymote) all hoping to make a major impact again for Coll’s crew.

The much-fancied Leinster contingency have Carla MULDOON (St. Mac Dara’s Community College, Templeogue), Ella KELLY (Tallaght Community School) and Anna BUTLER (St. Andrew’s College, Blackrock) combining their talents yet again.

While Ulster have the impressive Sarah McCAFFREY (Large College, Clones) and Ashling MUGAN (Deele College, Raphoe) featuring for Paddy McDaid’s team.

On paper, Munster have the favourites tag with the inclusion of three Schools Internationals lining out: namely Wallace, Meaney and McGrath. The trio played a vital role in the Republic of Ireland’s title win in Newcastle last Easter, which saw Richard Berkeley’s side lift the Bob Docherty Cup; a third consecutive title win for the Republic of Ireland.

Another fringe player from 2021, who was named in the squad for the Northern Ireland friendly was Ulster student McCaffrey. She picked up an injury prior to the visit to Belfast. She subsequently missed the cut for the final squad. No doubt the Monaghan scholar will be looking to secure her place this time around. 

Emma WALLACE, Elisha BOYLE and Mia O’DONNELL captured the First Year ‘B’ Girls National Cup last Tuesday with their School, Rosses Community School, Dungloe. Boyle captained the side while Wallace scored a hat-trick in the final and four in the semi-final so it will be interesting to see how the trio do at the next level up.

Similarly, Aoife SHERIDAN of Balbriggan Community College will face off against a familiar Fia Nic GIOLLA CHOILL of Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair having clashed in the Minor ‘B’ Girls National Cup Final last month. The Donegal School winning 3-1 despite Sheridan’s opening goal in the tie.  Those pupils imposed their dominance in that outing and the management staff will be hoping for more of the same again this weekend.  

Last year, saw Leinster’s reign diminished with a wonderful exhibition of football from Champions Munster. Rob Ellison’s sides won the trophy in 2019 and 2018 but the three in a row eluded them 12 months ago. Connacht won the elusive competition in 2017 while Ulster have waited 12 years for top spot. No doubt all management teams will have their teams primed for some exciting football. The opening game will see Leinster entertain Ulster at 3pm while Munster take on Connacht at 5pm.

Following the initial games, a draw will be made on Friday evening for Saturday’s pairings which kick off at 1pm and 3pm. The conclusion of the tournament will see the penultimate game on Sunday at 10.30am while the final series will take place at 12.30pm

INTERPROVINCIAL PANELS

CONNACHT | Aoife Meaney (Sacred Heart School, Westport), Emma Dillon (Coláiste Éinde, Salthill), Áine Máiread Monaghan (St. Brendan’s College, Belmullet),  Jessica Talbot (Coláiste na Coiribe, Baile na mBúrcach), Róise Burke (Ballinrobe Community School), Katie Glynn (Coláiste Chiaráin, Athlone), Abbie Duffy (Presentation College, Athenry), Heather Loomes (Jesus and Mary Secondary, Salerno, Salthill),  Ava Mullins (Calasanctius College, Oranmore), Mairead McIntyre, McKenzie Reynolds, Kya McKenna (Ursuline College, Sligo), Lesley Ann Sweeney (Coláiste Muire, Ballymote), Fia O’Connor (Coláiste Chroí Mhuire gan Smal, Spiddal), Kasey Ruane (St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Foxford), Niamh Mannion (Dominican College, Taylor’s Hill), Lucy Gavin (Mercy College, Sligo)

MANAGEMENT | Dom Coll (Presentation College, Athenry) Stephen Lacken (St. Patrick’s College, Lacken Cross), Seamus MacEachmharcaigh (Sacred Heart School, Westport), Tessa Mullins (Holy Rosary College, Mountbellew).

LEINSTER | Jenna Willoughby (Ratoath College), Abigail Bradshaw (St. Colmcille’s Community School, Knocklyon), Emma Gaughran (St. Mary’s College, Dundalk), Aoife Fennell (Our Lady’s School, Terenure), Katie Norton (St. Michael’s Holy Faith Secondary School, Finglas), Sadhbh Gorman (Coláiste Pobail Setanta, Phibblestown, Clonee), Katie Ray (Kildare Town Community School),  Carla Muldoon, Keelin Comiskey  (St. MacDara’s Community College), Anna Butler (St. Andrew’s College, Blackrock), Ella Kelly (Tallaght Community School), Aisling Meehan (Holy Child Secondary School, Killiney), Marian Bissett (Mercy Secondary School, Inchicore), Niamh Norton (Coláiste Rís, Dundalk), Aoife Sheridan (Balbriggan Community College), Laura Fanning (St. Vincent’s Secondary School, Dundalk), Ellie Ivers (Coláiste Bríde, Clondalkin)

MANAGEMENT | Rob Ellison (St. Raphaela's SS, Stillorgan), Scott Gaynor (Presentation SS, Wexford) Della Doherty (Student), Maeve Williams (Student), Teegan Lynch (Student)

MUNSTER | Sara Mae Murphy (Coláiste Íde agus Iosaf, Abbeyfeale), Kate Jones (Coláiste Muire Ennis), Aibhlinn Cotter (Kilrush Community School), Chloe Wallace (Coláiste Nano Nagle, Sexton St. Limerick), Emma Meaney, Madison McGuane (Ardscoil Mhuire, Corbally), Grace Hogan (St. Ailbe’s School, Tipperary), Lily Anne O’Meara (Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré), Ciara Breslin (Presentation Secondary School, Thurles), Eleanor Blake (Laurel Hill Secondary School), Grace Ehinger (Borrisokane Community College), Alice Ahmeti (Coláiste an Phiarsaigh), Eva Loftus (Laurel Hill Coláiste, Limerick), Laura Falvey (Mercy Secondary School, Mounthawk), Sarah Doyle (Scoil Mhuire, Carrick on Suir), Leah McGrath (St. Anne’s Secondary School, Tipperary)

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 (Laurel Hill Coláiste), Hayley Dewick (St. Ailbe’s School, Tipperary), Pat Barrett (GK Coach)

ULSTER | Lauren McArdle (Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town), Elisha Boyle, Emma Wallace, Mia O’Donnell (Rosses Community School, Dungloe), Kaylagh Sweeney (Loreto Community School, Milford), Sophie Doherty, Scarlett Keys, Sorcha Keys, Ashling Mugan, Holly McCarron (Deele College, Raphoe), Sarah McGuinness (St. Catherine’s Vocational School, Killybegs), Sarah McCaffrey (Largy College, Clones), Fia Nic Giolla Choill (Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair), Cliona O’Donnell, Rhianna Doherty (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Abbie Sheils (St. Clare’s College, Ballyjamesduff), Casey Smith (Loreto College, Cavan)

MANAGEMENT | Paddy McDaid (Finn Valley College, Stranorlar), Kaneshia McKinney (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Catherine Fletcher (Mulroy College, Milford) Shane Bradley (GK Coach)

FIXTURES

AUL Complex, Clonshaugh (2 periods of 30 minutes)

Friday, November 18

3.00pm Leinster vs Ulster

5.00pm Connacht vs Munster

Saturday, November 19

1.00pm Match 3 Draw to be made on Friday evening

3.00pm Match 4 Draw to be made on Friday evening

Sunday, November 20

10.30am Match 5

12.30pm Match 6

Girls’ Interprovincial Tournament Roll of Honour

*Senior U18