Local pair on Ireland squad
IRELAND head coach Richie Berkeley has named his final squad for this season’s international series, which will see the Under 15 girls face Northern Ireland and England in two friendly games before heading to Belfast to compete in the prestigious Bob Docherty Cup.
Included in the squad are local pair Kate O’Dowd (St. Nathy’s College, Ballaghaderreen) and Emer O’Neill (St. Louis Community School, Kiltimagh).
The final selection stems from months of assessment days and monitoring of players since the conclusion of the annual interprovincial tournament last November. That three-day event saw 68 of the best players line out for their respective provinces as the first step in a comprehensive review period for the management team.
As well as the on-pitch activity, Berkeley has concentrated his efforts on performance analysis, team building, communications and team dynamics.
The Republic of Ireland’s extended panel featured in a friendly last weekend against the Under 17 Western Region Development squad at Solar 21 Park, Castlebar, and performed exceptionally well, scoring a 3-1 victory.
Berkeley, who teaches in Sancta Maria College, Louisburgh, has a wealth of talent at his disposal this season, with four players returning to the fore in 2018. One is the aforementioned O’Dowd, who is joined by two more Connaught returnees – Anna Fahey of St. Paul’s Secondary School, Oughterard, and Muireann Devaney, St. Clare’s Comprehensive School, Manorhamilton.
O’Dowd was given the honour of leading her team out in Castlebar at the weekend and played a starring role in the match.
Other Connaught players on the squad include Theresa Kinnevey of St. Paul’s SS, Oughterard, plus Claregalway College pair Kate Slevin and Shauna Brennan.
That the western province is so well represented should come as little surprise as Connaught secured the interprovincial title in November, bridging a 25-year hiatus.
On the management side, Berkeley is joined by Karen Deans of St. Ultan’s, Navan, and Mulroy College stalwart Karen Henry. Dave Rooney is the goalkeeping coach, with Emma Mullin assuming the role of performance analyst.
The three-day Bob Docherty Cup tournament, won last year by the Welsh Dragons, will commence on Saturday, March 24.
First up, however, is a friendly against Northern Ireland at the AUL Complex, Clonshaugh, on Sunday, February 17 (12 noon) followed by a training camp in early March and then the John Read Cup friendly against England at Strafford Town FC on Saturday, March 10 (3 p.m.).