FAI Schools Girls Interprovincial Tournament (U15)

FAI Schools Girls’ Interprovincial Tournament (U15)

Leinster Schools bid for three in-a-row

October 31, 2014

The Girls’ Interprovincial Tournament will take place on the weekend of November 7 to 9 in the AUL Complex, Clonshaugh.

The Interprovincial series is the first step in the process of selecting the FAI Schools U15 Internationaldevelopment squad for next year’s Bob Docherty Cup so as well as provincial honours; there is plenty at stake with sixty eight of the top players in Irish schools taking part.

Paul Howard’s Leinster side are reigning champions having snatched victory last season with a draw to Ulster and wins over Munster and Connacht enough to see them lift the trophy for a second consecutive year. The champions welcome back a host of stars that include three former schools internationals namely Ciara Maher (Colaiste de hÍde, Tallaght), Tiegan Ruddy (St. Wolstan’s CS, Celbridge), Katie Burdis (Coláiste na hInse, Bettystown) and Erica Turner (Rockford Manor SS). Turner wasn’t selected for Counihan’s International select in 2013 but the Blackrock student will relish the opportunity to impress. Howard has also included twelve year old Jessica Ziu of Larkin CC in the squad. Alongside Ziu will be another four players eligible to play next season namely Jessie Morrissey, Roisin McGovern, Louise Masterson and Isibel Carolan

Deele College mentor Maureen O’Donnell returns for a second year in charge with Ulster last capturing the elusive title back in 2010. The Donegal native will be hoping for an improved performance this time out. She has a mix of students from Milford, Moville, Buncrana and the Glenties at her disposal. Monaghan native Louise Kerley (St. Louis SS, Carrickmacross) will be hoping for plenty of the action as she enjoys her time in the camp along youngsters Catherine Grier (Mulroy College) and goalkeeper Bronagh Gallagher (St. Columba’s, Glenties) who will be two of the youngest players to tog out. O’Donnell has included Jenna Doherty (Moville CC) and Michelle McDaid (Crana College, Buncrana) again this season which will help in their endeavours to be crowned Interprovincial Champions for 2014.

The Munster crew will all be relatively new to this tournament as only a handfulreturn from last season’s squad with Davis College student Sophie Tuohy, Gaelcholaiste Luimnigh star Tara Mannix and goalkeeper Maria O’Sullivan of Ballincollig CS making the cut.The Munster girls have an impressive record in this competition winning last in 2011 and completing a three in a row in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Mentor Richard Grimes will be hoping to replicate such successes in due course. Alanna Gallagher (Abbey CS), Kaiesha Tobin (St. Augustine’s College) and Hannah O’Donoughue (Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine) will be ones to watch out for this season

In the 18 years that Dom Coll has been involved with the Connacht set-up, his charges have yet to win the title. They came agonisingly close to snatching victory in 2012 only for Leinster to get an injury time winner courtesy of a converted penalty by Eleanor Ryan Doyle (St. Joseph’s College, Lucan) to take the title in dramatic fashion in Athlone Town FC. Coll has a very youthful team lining out with eight of his squad all eligible to play next season. In the mix is Dominican College twins Megan and Lily Hengerer who line out with colleagues Aoife Lynagh and Claire Conroy. Connacht welcome back goalkeeper Michelle Treacy and Rachel Baynes of Sacred Heart School, Westport, Andrea Trill of Coláiste Bhaile Chláir, Claregalway and International star Heather Payne who is studying in Coláiste Mhuire, Ballinasloe. No doubt the experience the quartet gained last year will be instrumental to the province as they go in search of an historic win.

The tournament should prove highly entertaining as recent years have shown and it will be all to play for as the teams do battle in the Capital.

As part of the International trial process, a training squad will be selected by the Irish School’s management team. Lorraine Counihan (Coláiste Mhuire, Buttevant) will continue in the International management role this season alongside newcomer Richard Berkley (Sancta Maria College, Louisburgh) who is drafted in as Coach in place of Alistair Harvey (St. Kilian’s DSD). The duo will also be joined by David Rooney, goalkeeping coach who was involved last season with the squad. The International select did extremely well in the tournament, capturing runners up spot for a second year.

The provisional training squad will have several trials and training sessions later in the year ahead of the Bob Docherty Tournament which will take place from April 6 to 9, 2015 in Scotland.

In keeping with the long standing tradition of maintaining the interest in the competition until the final matches on Sunday morning, the draw for Saturday and Sunday’s matches will be made following the games on Friday evening

PROVINCIAL PANELS:

LEINSTER: Niamh COOMBES (Cariatas College, Dublin), Erica TURNER (Rockford Manor SS, Blackrock), Paula BELENGEUR (St. Laurence College, Loughlinstown),Ciara MAHER (Colaiste de Ide, Tallaght), Louise MASTERSON (Holy Family CS, Rathcoole), Roisin McGOVERN (Loreto College, Foxrock), Tiegan RUDDY (St. Wolstan’s CS, Celbridge), Shauna MARTIN (St. Paul’s SS, Greenhills), Robyn McEVOY (Coláiste na hInse, Bettystown), Orla HACKETT (Coláiste Ciaran, Leixlip), Orla CASEY (Loreto SS, Kilkenny), Isibel CAROLAN (St. Joseph’s SS, Rush), Jessie MORRISSEY (St. Laurence College, Loughinstown), Katie BURDIS (Coláiste na hInse, Bettystown), Jessica ZIU (Larkin Community College), Aoife FENNELL (Donabate CC), Tara CULLY (St. Paul’s SS, Greenhills)

MANAGEMENT: Paul Howard (Loreto College, Crumlin), Eoin Clarkin (St. Kilian’s DSD, Clonskeagh), Cerrie Byrne (Ardgillan Community College, Balbriggan), Leanne McGrath and Jenny Ferrari

CONNACHT: Michelle TREACY,Rachel BAINES,(both Sacred Heart School, Westport), Andrea TRILL, Sinead DONOVAN(both Coláiste Bhaile Chláir, Claregalway),Gráinne O’NEILL (St. Louis CS, Kiltimagh), Megan MENGERER, Aoife LYNAGH, Lily HENGERER, Claire CONROY (all Dominican College, Taylor’s Hill, Salthill) Heather PAYNE (Ard Scoil Mhuire, Ballinasloe), Sadhbh DOYLE(Jesus & Mary Secondary School, Salerno), Ciara WHYTE (St. Mary’s SS, Ballina), Shauna GOLDEN (St. Nathy’s College, Ballaghaderreen), Aoife GAVIN (Summerhill College, Athlone) Ellen IRWIN, Ciara CORCORAN (both Meánscoil Muire gan Smál, Convent of Mercy, Roscommon), Ria McPHILBIN (The Jesuit, Galway)

MANAGEMENT: Dom Coll (Presentation College, Athenry), Seamus MacEachmharcaigh (Sacred Heart School, Westport),Seán Boland,Fabienne Cooney (both Meánscoil Muire gan Smál, Convent of Mercy, Roscommon)

ULSTER: Claire FRIEL, Catherine GRIER (both Mulroy College, Milford), Aisling McDAID, Alanah DOHERTY (both Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana),Jenna DOHERTY, Emma DOHERTY, Kate McGLENAGHAN, Bronagh McGUINNESS, Emer McLAUGHLIN (all Moville Community College), Shannon QUINN, Danielle McDEVITT, Bronagh GALLAGHER, Amy BOYLE (all St. Columba’s CS, Glenties) Tyler TOLAND (Deele College, Raphoe), Julie TREARTY (Loreto CS, Milford), Michelle McDaid (Crana College, Buncrana), Louise KERLEY (St. Louis SS, Carrickmacross)

MANAGEMENT: Maureen O’Donnell, Zoe McGlynn (both Deele College, Raphoe)

MUNSTER: Maria O’SULLIVAN (Ballincollig CS, Cork), Allana GALLAGHER, Bethany CARROLL (both Abbey CS, Waterford), Angela McGUIGAN (Scoil Mhuire, Greenhill, Carrick on Suir), Sophie TUOHY (Davis College, Mallow), Mary Kate CURRAN (Blackwater CS, Lismore), Michelle O’DRISCOLL (St. Angela’s College, Cork), Jessica DEVEREUX (St. Angela’s, The Ursuline, Waterford) Kaiesha TOBIN (St. Augustine’s College, Waterford), Rachel COMPAGNO (Christ King Girls’ SS, Cork), Tara MANNIX (Gaelcholaiste Luimnigh), Emma TOBIN (Loreto SS, Clonmel), Claire NEVIN (Coláiste Choilm, Cork), Orna O’BRIEN (Ard Scoil na nDeise, Dungarvan), Courtney HISTON (St. Peter’s CS, Passage West, Cork), Hannah O’DONOGHUE (Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine, Kerry), Fiadhna TANGNEY (Intermediate School, Killorglin)

MANAGEMENT: Richard Grimes, Caoimhe Byrne, Ciara Moloney (all St. Caimin’s Community School, Shannon), Michael Looby (FAI Development Officer), Mark Barry (GK Coach)

U15 GIRLS INTERPROVINCIAL FIXTURES

Friday, November 7

3.00pm Leinster vs Munster

4.30pm Connacht vs Ulster

Saturday, November 8

2.00pm Draw will be made on Friday evening

3.30pm Draw will be made on Friday evening

Sunday, November 9

10.00am Fixtures to be confirmed

11.30am Fixtures to be confirmed

Girls’ Interprovincial Tournament Roll of Honour

END