Connacht squad for interprovincial series features a number of Mayo students

The 2024 FAI Schools Under 15 Girls’ Interprovincial series kicks off in Athlone Town AFC during the midterm break next week – from Tuesday, October 29, to Thursday, October 31.

The three-day tournament will see 68 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.

The Connacht squad features a number of Mayo students, including Sive Flanagan of Mount St. Michael SS in Claremorris, Emily Coleman of St. Joseph's SS, Foxford, Caoimhe O'Donnell of St. Patrick's College, Lacken Cross, Killala, and Saoirse Reynolds and Aoibhinn McGreal of Sacred Heart School, Westport.

In addition, Stephen Lacken of St. Patrick's College, Lacken Cross, and Seamus Mac Eachmharcaigh of Sacred Heart School, Westport, are on the management team along with Dom Coll (retired, Presentation College, Athenry).

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. In 2025, Richard Berkeley’s international side will travel the short distance to Belfast as Northern Ireland host the tournament during the Easter break (Sunday, April 13, to Thursday, April 17).

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 incredible 12 players will return from last season. Ulster have two, Leinster and Munster have three apiece, while Connacht have four: Abbie Duffy (Presentation College, Athenry), Chloe Glynn (Coláiste Chiaráin, Athlone), Ana Conway (Salerno Jesus & Mary Secondary School, Salthill) and Ava Hallinan (Jesus & Mary Secondary School, Enniscrone). Duffy was capped for the Irish schools side in the Bob Docherty Cup last April, so she will be one to watch for Dom Coll’s charges. It's actually her third consecutive year lining out for Connacht – a remarkable achievement.

Leinster come into the competition as defending champions and may hold the favourites tag on paper. Munster secured back-to-back victories in 2021 and 2022, while Connacht captured the elusive title in 2017 and Ulster were last victorious 14 years ago.

It’s a huge honour for the students to represent their schools and be selected at this level. Many of these youngsters will go on to international squads while others will look back on the competition as one of their many footballing highlights.

As the excitement mounts for this year’s contest, Connacht will open the series when they take on Ulster at 3 p..m on Tuesday afternoon, while Leinster kick off their title defence against Munster at 5 p.m.

Following the initial games, a draw will be made on Tuesday evening for Wednesday’s pairings, which kick off at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.. The conclusion of the tournament will see the penultimate game on Thursday at 10.30 a.m., while the final game will commence at 12.30 p.m.

All games will be live streamed, with links available on the FAI Schools social media platforms on the respective matchdays (@faischools on Facebook and X/Twitter)

The Connacht squad in full is as follows: Ivana McMahon (Ursuline College, Sligo), Sive Flanagan (Mount St. Michael Secondary School, Claremorris), Abbie Duffy (Presentation College, Athenry), Chloe Glynn (Coláiste Chiaráin, Athlone), Mona Lowe (Lough Allen College, Leitrim), Aisling Kennedy (Glenamaddy Community School), Ana Conway (Salerno Jesus & Mary Secondary School, Salthill), Maireád Mullins (St. Cuan’s College, Castleblakeney), Ava Hallinan (Jesus & Mary Secondary School, Enniscrone), Emily Coleman (St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Foxford), Tilly Carroll (Salerno Jesus & Mary Secondary School, Salthill), Caoimhe O’Donnell (St. Patrick’s College, Lacken Cross, Killala), Saoirse Reynolds, Aoibhinn McGreal (Sacred Heart School, Westport), Kyilah Maloney (Coláiste Bhaile Chláir), Katie Quirke (Calasanctius College, Oranmore), Kate McNamara (Seamount College, Kinvara).