Republic of Ireland win Bob Docherty Cup

Bob Docherty Cup | Match Day Three Review

Under 15 Girls’ International tournament

Saturday, April 19, 2025

Northern Ireland 2-3 Republic of Ireland                

Halle Harcourt (10), HaileyTwomeyy(49), Ellen Goggin (67)

England 1-3 Scotland                                 

The Republic of Ireland overcame hosts Northern Ireland in a highly entertaining five goal thriller played out in Greenisland FC last Thursday(April 17) to lift the prestigious Bob Docherty Cup. While in the other game, Scotland defeated England 3-1 in University Ulster, Jordanstown to finish second.

It was an impressive three wins from three in the four day tournament as Richard Berkeley’s side defeated England 2-1 in their opening game on Monday afternoon while they overcame Scotland 2-0 on Tuesday morning. They concluded their Cup success with a difficult 3-2 victory over Northern Ireland then on Thursday morning to ensure nine points from their three outings.

It was double Cup success for the Republic of Ireland crew as they won their encounter against England, while playing for the annual John Read Trophy honours. A feat that the Republic of Ireland enjoyed in 2018, Berkeley’s debut season in charge. The Tallaght native followed this up the following season, 2019, with the double retained. The Irish lost out in 2020 in the John Read Trophy with England capturing the win in FAI HQ, Abbotstown in a stand-alone fixture before the COVID-19 pandemic hit and cancelled the upcoming Bob Docherty Cup that year in Lilleshall.

However, the Republic of Ireland returned to winning ways when competitions resumed in 2022 clinching the double in Newcastle. Scotland then captured the Bob Docherty Cup in 2023 while England were victorious last year when Athlone Town AFC hosted the event.

The Head Coach was delighted for his team having put in a huge effort over the last six months with the players participation in the Interprovincial tournament during the October Midterm Break, followed by numerous assessments, culminating in the extended squads trial games with some WNL Underage teams as well as their friendly against Northern Ireland in mid-March. It was a lot to manage for the youngsters with their commitments to schools football and academia as well as their club involvement but all the hard work paid off in the end.

For the final game in the six match series, Berkeley again rotated his bench, utilising his players to the best of their abilities. Unfortunately for the Republic of Ireland Maisy Healy (Holy Faith Secondary School, Clontarf) had to sit out the contest due to illness. But there were first starts for Kyra Gavigan (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar) and Matylda Stelmaszek (St. Kilian’s DSD, Clonskeagh), with Ellen Goggin (Crescent College Comprehensive, Limerick) captaining the team as Ciara Milton (St. Leo’s College, Carlow) was rested.

The inform Halle HARCOURT of Larkin Community College converted a fabulous effort for the visitors to take the lead ten minutes in.

However Northern Ireland equalised with twenty minutes played with Grace MURRAY scoring a sensational goal.

The Northern Ireland netminder Saskia McLAUGHLIN pulled off an audacious save to deny the lively Ellen Goggin seven minutes from the break as they went in at half-time, one apiece.  

Northern Ireland then took the lead through another exceptional strike from Annarose ROBINSON three minutes into the restart to make it 2-1 to the hosts.

The Republic of Ireland were playing some lovely possession football as things began to settle down for them. Ciara Milton fired off a clinical strike that hit off the butt of the post with 45 minutes on the clock.

And four minutes later, the Republic drew level with Eureka Secondary School scholar Hailey TWOMEY finishing neatly.

Limerick starlet Ellen Goggin hit the crossbar from a brilliantly struck set-piece just before the hour mark and this was the precursor for the match winner which came three minutes from time from the same player!   GOGGIN netting a worldie from a well-executed free-kick twenty yards out which hit the roof of the net at the far post. An extraordinary winner from a very gifted player.

Huge credit to Northern Ireland who threw everything at their opposition in the later stages in search of that elusive equaliser but the Republic of Ireland held on for a fantastic and worthy win. Another superb team effort which saw the bench utilised to perfection.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Ruby NORRIS (Scoil Mhuire Greenhill, Carrick on Suir) was extremely impressive in the International series and warranted POTM for her outstanding display against Northern Ireland.  

OTHER ACCOLADES

Maisy HEALY was awarded Young Player of the Year for the group following some magnificent performances in the Irish jersey while Ruby BOLAND received the OVERALL PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT for her courageous defensive performances throughout the campaign. 

A nineth title for the Republic of Ireland in 22 years since the tournaments inception in 2002. Berkeley has been involved in four of the last six successful Cup campaigns. Before Berkeley’s tenure in 2018, there were wins for Head Coach Michael GALLAGHER (St. Joseph’s College, Athlone) in 2008 when Salthill Devon FC hosted and 2010 in Glasgow. While Priya THAKARAR collected the silverware in 2007 in Wrexham. 2005 saw Margaret O’REILLY’s (Loreto SS, Letterkenny)  side triumph in Ballymena. While FAI past President Donal CONWAY (Our Lady of Mercy College, Beaumont) clinched the trophy back in 2002 at the same venue.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SCHOOLS | Sarah Doyle (Scoil Mhuire Greenhill, Carrick on Suir), Ruby Boland (Gaelcholáiste Chill Dara), Ava Hallinan (Jesus & Mary Secondary School, Enniscrone), Skye Barrett (Maynooth Post Primary School), Hailey Twomey (Eureka Secondary School, Kells), Abbie Duffy (Presentation College, Athenry), Ruby Norris (Scoil Mhuire Greenhill, Carrick on Suir), Laila Hurley (St. Mac Dara’s Community College, Templeogue), Matylda Stelmaszek (St. Kilian’s DSD, Clonskeagh), Ellen Goggin © (Crescent College Comprehensive, Limerick), Kyra Gavigan (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar)

SUBS USED | Lara Dallaghan (Loreto Abbey Secondary School, Dalkey) Ava Kelly (Tallaght Community School), Halle Harcourt (Larkin Community College) for Milton (46), Leah O’Leary Callender (Ashton School, Cork), Ciara Milton (St. Leo’s College, Carlow),

SUBS NOT USED |  Lucy Doyle Farrington (St. Mary’s College, Arklow), Maisy Healy (Holy Faith Secondary School, Clontarf)

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

RESULTS

Monday, April 14 | Match Day 1

Scotland 2-0 Northern Ireland KO 11am Greenisland FC

England 1-2 Republic of Ireland KO 3.30pm Greenisland FC

Tuesday, April 15 | Match Day 2

Republic of Ireland  2-0 Scotland KO 11am Greenisland FC

Northern Ireland 0-0 England KO 3.30pm Greenisland FC

Thursday, April 17 | Match Day 3

England 1-3 Scotland KO 10.30am University of Ulster, Jordanstown

Northern Ireland 2-3 Republic of Ireland KO 10.30am Greenisland FC

POTM

vs England Leah O’Leary Callender (Ashton School, Cork)

vs Scotland Ava HALLINAN (Jesus & Mary Secondary School, Enniscrone)

vs Northern Ireland Ruby NORRIS (Scoil Mhuire Greenhill, Carrick on Suir)

SAFIB Bob Docherty Cup | Roll of Honour

Images courtesy of Gerry Scully