Republic of Ireland scholars set for Northern Ireland challenge

Under 15 Girls’ International Friendly

 

Monday, March 10, 2025

 

THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS will entertain Northern Ireland in an International Friendly at Rock Celtic FC, Dundalk this Sunday, March 16 (1.0)

 

Head Coach Richard Berkeley (Sancta Maria College, Louisburgh) has named a 19 strong panel to face their counterparts in an important outing for the girls in green.

 

The final squad for this year’s SAFIB Bob Docherty Cup must be submitted the following week so there will be plenty at stake for the players involved. The International tournament will take place in Greenisland FC, Belfast from April 14 to 17.

 

Berkeley is in the unique position of welcoming back five players from last season. He has both goalkeepers fit for action as Lucy Doyle Farrington (St. Mary’s College, Arklow)and Sarah Doyle (Scoil Mhuire Greenhill, Carrick on Suir) will fight it out for a starting eleven spot while Lara Dallaghan (Loreto Abbey Secondary School, Dalkey), Ciara Milton (St. Leo’s College, Carlow) and Abbie Duffy (Presentation College, Athenry) are all in outstanding form again this year.

 

The likes of Haily Twomey (Eureka Secondary School, Kells) and Halle Harcourt (Larkin Community College) have further International experience having lined out for the Irish Under 16s in recent months. Both keepers Doyle Farrington, Doyle and Dallaghan and Milton have also been capped at the older age group too so you’d envisage plenty of experience in that sextuplet to marshal the troops for this important test.

 

It's fantastic to see Ava Kelly (Tallaght Community School) and Maisy Healy (Holy Faith Secondary School, Clontarf) follow in their sisters footsteps with Ella featuring in 2023 for the Republic of Ireland Schools while International Schools’ Player of the Year, Hannah lined out for Berkeley’s crew in 2022.

 

Since 2014, these sides have met 8 times for friendly encounters with the Republic of Ireland enjoying the upper hand, winning 5, drawing twice and losing just once. Berkeley will be hoping to maintain a positive outcome on Sunday evening .

 

When the teams met twelve months ago, it ended with a win to the Republic of Ireland in Belfast. Captain Madison McGuane (Ardscoil Mhuire, Corbally),opened her account midway through the first half while Eva Loftus (Laurel Hill Coláiste, Limerick),  added a second before Emilee Leacock grabbed one back for the hosts. McGuane popped up seven minutes from time for her second and the Republic’s third of the day to finish 1-3 to the visitors.

 

It will a massive occasion for the players involved and they’ll be looking to secure a spot in the final squad for the International tournament in Belfast next month.

 

 

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS SELECT | Ruby Boland (Gaelcholáiste Chill Dara), Laila Hurley (St. MacDara’s Community College, Templeogue), Matylda Stelmaszek (St. Kilian’s DSD, Clonskeagh), Halle Harcourt (Larkin Community College), Kyra Gavigan (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar), Leah O’Leary Callender (Ashtown School, Cork), Leah Hannon, Ellen Goggin (both Crescent College Comprehensive, Limerick), Abbie Duffy (Presentation College, Athenry), Lucy Doyle Farrington (St. Mary’s College, Arklow), Ava Hallinan (Jesus & Mary Secondary School, Enniscrone), Lara Dallaghan (Loreto Abbey Secondary School, Dalkey), Ruby Norris, Sarah Doyle (both Scoil Mhuire Greenhill, Carrick on Suir), Ava Kelly (Tallaght Community School), Ciara Milton (St. Leo’s College, Carlow), Skye Barrett (Maynooth Post Primary School), Maisy Healy (Holy Faith Secondary School, Clontarf), Hailey Twomey (Eureka Secondary School, Kells)

MANAGEMENT STAFF | Head Coach Richard Berkeley (Sancta Maria College, Louisburgh),Coach Kaneshia McKinney (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana), Coach Paddy McDaid (Finn Valley College, Stranorlar), Coach Mia O’Connell (SETU Carlow), GK Coach Emmet Peyton (St. Muredach’s College, Ballina), Physio Cianna Hickey, Equipment Manager Joan Croke

 

NORTHERN IRELANDAnna Roberts (Blessed Trinity College, Belfast), Saskia McLaughlin (Glengormley Integrated College), Sasha Cowan (Sale Grammar, England), Grace Steele (Magherafelt High School), Sara Devany (Regent House, Newtownards), Ellie-Mae Turner (City of Armagh High School), Anayah Lee (Thornhill College, Derry-Londonderry), Caitlin Shields (Grosvenor Grammar, Belfast), Anna Smyth (Dalriada Grammar, Ballymoney), Grace Murray (Parkhall Integrated College, Antrim), Grace Guest (Our Lady and St. Patrick’s College Knock, Belfast), Charley McMullan (Belfast Model School for Girls), Abigail Curley (Blessed Trinity College), Ella Wasson (Lisneal College, Derry-Londonderry), Annarose Robinson (St. Catherine’s College, Armagh), Ellie Tohill (Grosvenor Grammar), Niamh McDaid (Thornhill College), Alexandra McKinnon (Laurelhill Community College, Lisburn)

MANAGEMENT STAFF | Head Coach Stephen Graham, Assistant Coach Heather Mearns, Assistant Coach Jack Little, GK Coach Stuart Irvine, Physio Eoin Mahon, Analyst Anna Mae Samuel

 

 

Previously Friendly Encounters vs Northern Ireland

 

DATE

RESULT vs Northern Ireland (Friendly)

VENUE

SCORERS

January 26, 2014

Republic of Ireland 3-0 Northern Ireland 16s

Ballyowen Park, Lucan

Tiegan Ruddy (16, 40) Niamh Farrelly (57)

2015

Northern Ireland vs Republic of Ireland

 

CANCELLED

February 20, 2016

Republic of Ireland 1-0 Northern Ireland

Oriel Park, Dundalk

Lilly Hengerer (70)

February 26, 2017

Republic of Ireland 7-1 Northern Ireland

AUL Complex, Dublin

Anna Fahey (7, 29), Shauna Carroll (25), Erin McLaughlin (28), Jessica Ziu (30), Eabha O’Mahony (Pen 63), Sophie Liston (70)            Teegan Lynch (68)

February 17, 2018

Republic of Ireland 2-1 Northern Ireland

AUL Complex, Dublin

Jessie Stapleton (8), Kate Slevin (50), Lucy Andrews (16)

March 3, 2019

Northern Ireland 0-0 Republic of Ireland

Armagh City FC

None

February 29, 2020

Republic of Ireland vs Northern Ireland

FAI HQ, Abbotstown

Cancelled due to storm

2021

Northern Ireland vs Republic of Ireland

 

COVID-19

February 26, 2022

Northern Ireland 2-1 Republic of Ireland

Midgley Park, Belfast

Jessica McGuinness (37), Darcie McNeill (75) Cache Crumlish (4)

March 5, 2023

Republic of Ireland 1-1 Northern Ireland

AUL Complex, Dublin

Laura Falvey (12)             Kayla Ann Clayton (24)

 

March 3, 2024

Northern Ireland 1-3 Republic of Ireland

Newforge Sports Complex, Belfast

Emilee Leacock (42)        Madison McGuane (18, 63), Eva Loftus (36)