Thomas Scott Cup

 Arklow Celtic 2

Coolboy Rangers 3  (AET)

Kane Group Build Park

Eoin Horkan 

A controlled finish in extra time from Coolboy’s Evan Kavanagh saw them come away victorious in this five goal thriller.

Within the first minute of the game the home side nearly took the lead when a Mark Doyle corner nearly found its way directly into the goal.

On the ten minute mark the pressure the home side were piling on the opponents goal nearly paid off but the cross/shot from Mikey Doyle missed the far post.

In the next phase of play and completely against the run of play Rangers broke away, Darren Jordan was taken down inside the box which resulted in a penalty. Up stepped captain Corey Wallace to send the keeper the wrong way and give his side the lead.The next fifteen minutes of the half belonged to Celtic as they went in search of the equaliser. A Craig Caufield header flew over the bar.

On the twenty minute mark the tie was levelled with a very well worked free kick. Conor Byrne stood over the ball on the edge of the box before cleverly finding Larry Byrne to head into the corner from close range.

The swirling breeze was favouring Arklow as they started to pepper the goal with efforts from Mark Doyle and Caufield. Neither of which troubled the goalie.

The last ten minutes saw Rangers press forward which resulted in a mix up in the defense that fell to Evan Kavanagh whose strike missed the post. The last chance of the half fell to Jordan who drove the ball past the goalie but Aaron Dunne cleared a certain goal.

The away side had the aid of the breeze in the second half and were starting to control the middle third. This led to a couple of free kicks. Wallace stood over them but couldn't hit the target from range. A Paddy Walker strike from range was well saved by Anthony Gahan in the Coolboy goal.

With just twenty minutes gone in the half the game had fallen into a midfield battle and neither side could muster many chances. Then the game changed when Wallace controlled a ball out wide and let fly from near the half way line. His strike wind assisted flew into the net.

The home side then went in search of the leveller in the last twenty minutes. A solid rearguard performance from Rangers looked like it was enough.With a minute left in  normal time Celtic won a free kick out wide which was whipped into the net by Mikey Doyle  sending the home crowd into rapturous as it found the back of the net.

The added time saw both sides creating chances  but couldn't hit the net as extra time came.

The toss in extra time was won by Arklow but it was Coolboy who managed to take the lead. After four minutes when Wallace played a sumptuous through ball to Kavanagh who finished into the corner.The rest of the opening half produced some great deafening to keep the advantage going in at the break

After the interval both sides were tying and chances were even more at a premium. The closest Arklow got was a corner which was well defended. The opponents created one last chance but Paddy Walker produced a well timed block on the full time whistle.

Arklow Cetic:Edwin Walker,Larry Byrne,Craig Kelly,Adam Vanderheijden,Aaron Dunne,Craig Caufield,Rokas Kneizys,Paddy Walker,Mikey Doyle, Mark Doyle,Conor Byrne.

Subs Used;Evan Vanderheijden for Conor Byrne,Ryan McGowan for Mark Doyle,Sean Dunne for Rokas Kneizys,Sean Byrne for Craig Kelly,Mark Wolohan for Adam Vanderheijden.

Coolboy Rangers:Anthony Gahan,Andrew Gettings,Larry Kinsella,Brad Walsh,Rory Tallon,Cathal Rooney,Macdara O’Neill,Ryan Mulligan,Darren Jordan,Corey Wallace,Evan Kavanagh.

Subs Used:Adam Farrell for Andrew Gettings,Wayne Roche for Evan Kavanagh.

Referee Carl Doyle

Arklow U vs St Anthony's

 Arklow United A 0

St Anthony’s 2

Arklow Credit Union Park 

Eoin Horkan 

Two goals in the last twenty minutes saw the Kilcoole side keep their title ambitions alive in Arklow on Friday night.

Within two minutes of the opening whistle the visitors nearly took the lead when Cian Davis unleashed an effort that was well kept out by Dean Flood Hayes. From the outset St Anthony’s were controlling this tie. On the ten minute mark Dan Lacey broke away and tried to round the United goalie managed to touch the ball away to save a certain goal. After this early dominance the home side battled back and after a fine solo run from young winger James McBride that ball fell to Oisin Keegan whose volley flew over the bar. This was a slight reprieve as the opponents were managing to create a number of chances. In almost a carbon copy of the Arklow chance a cross from Michael Gray found Lacey but with the goal at his mercy he managed to put the ball over the crossbar.

The rest of the half belonged to the home side as Keegan and Matt Dempsey started to wrestle back the control of this tie. They nearly managed to take the lead from a dead ball but Niall Delahunt couldn't keep his volley under the bar. The chances were coming quicker now from United as Zack Kilbride produced a fantastic solo run  down the wing. He cut inside but his effort managed to graze the top of the bar.

The crowd were getting restless as they couldn't understand how no one had broken the deadlock.

The last couple of chances of the half stayed with the home side, a Shane Connolly free from the corner was inches from hitting the top corner.  

Thai last chances both sides would go in at the break ruing the chances they had missed.

Within minutes of the restart United should have taken the lead but Aaron Parle Kinsella’s header managed to fly over the crossbar with nobody within three yards of him. On  the  counter attack Steven Kavanagh broke away but Conor Clark stood strong in the Kilcoole side's goal.

The last twenty minutes of this tie belonged to Anto’s as they went searching for the decisive goal in this tie.They managed to get a corner which fell to Peter Bure the net rattled but the ball hit the sid netting as the Kilcoole crowd that they had taken the lead.

Minutes later Lacey broke away from the United defense as he was about to unleash a shot he was fouled by the defender who was trying to make up the ground. Up stepped Kevin O’Connor who put the ball into the corner sending Flood Hayes the wrong way.

The home side's final chance to level the tie fell  to substitute Mark Nolan whose volley was well saved by Clark. It looked like the penalty was going to be the difference until the final play of the game. St Anthony’s broke away with Dan Lacey who controlled the ball before cutting in on the end line, then chipping the ball into the top corner on the full time whistle.

Arklow United:Dean Flood Hayes,Shane Connolly,Conor Blainey,Niall Delahunt,David O’Neill,Stephen Kavanagh,Zack Kilbride,Oisin Keegan,Mark Dempsey,Aaron Parle Kinsella,James McBride.

Subs Used:Mark Nolan Aaron Parle Kinsella,Graham Watts for Stephen Kavanagh,Darren Dempsey for Mark Dempsey,Aidan Cox for James McBride 

St Anthony’s;Conor Clark,Louis Thomas,Javi Hernandez,Mikey Counihan,Peter Burke,Blake Ryan,Cian Davis,Jamie Murray,Dan Lacey,Kevin O’Connor,Michael Gray.

Subs Used: Matthew Kennedy for Javi Hernandez,Jamie Riro Ruda for Cian Davis,Danny Webb for Jamie Murray.

Referee:Dominique Lachaussee

Kitty Jennings Ireland Reaction

Reaction: Mayo rugby player to feature for Ireland in U-18 Six Nations

Westport RFC player Kitty Sweeney talks to reporter Eoin Horkan ahead of her big opportunity to put on the green jer

https://www.mayonews.ie/video/rugby/2052561/reaction-mayo-rugby-player-to-play-for-ireland-in-u-18-six-nations.html

https://www.mayonews.ie/video/rugby/2052561/reaction-mayo-rugby-player-to-play-for-ireland-in-u-18-six-nations.html

Kitty Jennings

 

Westport's rugby rise continues as Sweeney selected for Ireland

Westport's growing reputation as a breeding ground for elite rugby talent has received another boost

Westport's growing reputation as a breeding ground for elite rugby talent has received another boost, with young star Kitty Sweeney earning a place in the Irish U18 Women’s Six Nations squad. For Ava Ryder, a trailblazer as one of the club’s first Irish representatives, the news is both exciting and deeply personal.

It’s great,” Ryder said. “It’s such a good representation of the club and the girls coming through. It’s unreal for Kitty as a player and for her development, but it’s also brilliant for Westport. There are so many girls coming through now and representing the green jersey.”

Ryder’s own journey has taken her from the west of Ireland to the heart of Leinster rugby, where she now works developing the women’s game. Despite her move east, her Connacht roots remain strong.

“I still play for Connacht,” she explained. “Working with Leinster is a dream job, helping get more girls into rugby, but every summer I go back and put on the Connacht jersey – my home jersey.”

Looking ahead, Ryder’s ambitions remain firmly tied to her province. “To win an Interpro with Connacht is the goal,” she said. “This summer is really exciting with international players coming back. Everyone loves the Interpros – it’s always such a great competition.”

Back in Westport, the game continues to flourish. Speaking from Barnhall, where another busy day of sevens rugby was unfolding, Ryder reflected on the club that shaped her.

“My years in Westport Rugby Club were amazing. It played such a big role in where I am today,” she said. “It’s unreal to see the growth, even hearing about it from Dublin. And with Sacred Heart as well, it’s great to see girls out there enjoying the same experiences I had.”

With players like Sweeney now following in her footsteps, Ryder’s legacy in Westport rugby is already clear—and still growing.

https://www.mayonews.ie/news/rugby/2051773/westport-s-rugby-rise-continues-as-sweeney-selected-for-ireland.html

Wicklow Rovers vs Avonmore

 Wicklow Rovers 3

Avonmore 2 

Eoin Horkan 

Whitegates

A clever  late header from Robbie Mearns proved decisive as Wicklow Rovers claimed all three points in a gripping five-goal encounter on Saturday afternoon, in what was one of the final fixtures played at Whitegates.

With a sense of occasion surrounding the tie, the home side were determined to mark it in style—and they nearly got off to the perfect start. Inside the opening minutes, both Mearns and Evan Conyard found space to test Avonmore goalkeeper Matty Boland, but the shot-stopper was equal to both efforts, setting the tone for what would become a personal duel between himself and the Rovers forward.

The breakthrough finally arrived on the minute mark  A well-worked move down the flank ended with a pinpoint delivery into the box, where Lorcan Sinnott rose highest to guide a header beyond Boland at his near post. It was a deserved lead for a Rovers side who had started on the front foot.

Boland continued to frustrate Mearns as the striker looked lively throughout, but Rovers doubled their advantage shortly after the quarter-hour mark. Nathan O’Sullivan surged down the wing and was brought down inside the area, leaving the referee with little choice but to award a penalty. Sinnott stepped up confidently and made no mistake from the spot, sending his strike past Boland.

Despite the early setback, Avonmore gradually began to grow into the game. Their first real chance came through Cian O’Hanrahan, whose effort was well dealt with by Jack Neville in the Rovers goal. That moment sparked a spell of sustained pressure from the visitors, led impressively by captain Callum Pursey in midfield.

Pursey’s influence began to tell as Avonmore pushed forward with intent. Ryan Delamere tried his luck from distance but fired over, while striker Alex Olohan also went close, dragging an effort just over the crossbar as the pressure mounted.

The breakthrough the visitors  deserved eventually arrived just past the half-hour mark. Neville did well initially to parry a powerful strike, but Olohan reacted quickest to the rebound, sliding the ball home under the goalkeeper to halve the deficit.

With momentum now firmly on their side,they continued to press. Pursey drove forward once more but couldn’t keep his shot down, and as half-time approached, the equaliser arrived. A scramble in the Rovers box saw Cody Reid pounce to bundle the ball over the line, ensuring the sides went in level at 2-2.

There was still time for one final scare before the break, as O’Hanrahan struck the post with a fine effort, leaving Rovers relieved to hear the half-time whistle.

The home side  came out with renewed purpose in the second half and nearly regained the lead early on. Conyard broke clear on goal, but once again Boland stood tall to deny him, continuing his impressive display between the posts.

The midfield pairing of Tomas Kennedy and Nathan O’Sullivan began to assert control for the home side, dictating the tempo and creating openings. Kennedy came close with a well-struck effort that was again kept out by Boland, as Rovers searched for a crucial third goal.

The Rathdrum based side  remained dangerous on the counter, and Mark Cullen nearly caught Neville off his line midway through the half, but his tight-angle effort drifted wide of the target.

With the clock ticking down and tensions rising, the decisive moment arrived with fifteen minutes remaining. O’Sullivan delivered a superb cross into the area, tempting Boland off his line. Mearns rose to meet it and powered a header goalward, guiding it past the stranded keeper to restore Rovers’ lead.

Th opposition threw everything forward in the closing stages in search of another equaliser, but Neville and his defence stood resolute under pressure. Despite a series of late attacks, Neville and his back line held firm to secure a hard-fought victory.

In a match full of drama, quality, and intensity, it was fitting that a moment of precision and composure ultimately separated the sides—ensuring Whitegates witnessed another memorable chapter before its final farewell.

Wicklow Rovers:Jack Neville,Mark Whelan,Kevin Cawley,Alex Sinnott,Paul McGrath,Tomas Kennedy,Nathan O’Sullivan,Shane Devlin,Evan Conyard,Lorcan Sinnott,Robbie Mearns 

Subs Used:Cormac Waldron for Mark Whelan Dillon Vickers  for Shane Devlin

Avonmore:Matty Boland,Ryan Delamere,Caleb Fox,Fiachra O’Hanrahan,John Murphy,Declan Breslin,Cody Reid,Callum Pursey,Alex Olohan,Cian O’Hanrahan,Mark Cullen.

Subs Used:Cormac McGraynor for Alex Olohan,Mark O’Reilly for Caleb Fox,Ross Williams for Declan Breslin.

Referee:Michael Kennedy 

Arklow United B vs Aughrim

 Arklow United B 4

Aughrim Rangers. 0

Eoin Horkan 

Credit Union park

A Niall Higgins double either side of the break helped the home side to what turned out to be a comfortable victory in the end.

The opening ten minutes of this Friday night game saw both sides creating half chances but neither goalkeeper was really troubled as the efforts flew over the bar.

Just before the quarter hour mark United had two shots, the first from Niall Higgins before a minute later James McBride let fly, these two efforts were well saved by Sean Roche in the opposition goal.

Moments later and completely against the run of play the visitors broke away but Eamon Kennedy’s effort was smothered by Paddy Gannon before the rebound was cleared off the line by Nathan Carr.

The Arklow midfield of Connors and Higgins were controlling the play and eventually just after the half an hour mark a well worked free kick where Ray Davis fed Higgins whose effort found the far corner of the net.

The last few minutes of the half saw another Davis free from range well kept out before the whistle was blown.

The early stages of the second half belonged to the away side as they managed to wrestle back control of this tie. Their first strike on the goal was through midfielder Tim Ivers which flew over the bar.

Minutes later Aughrim broke away but Paddy Gannon rushed off his line to smother the attack the ball then landed at the feet of Michael Young and with the keeper miles away from his goal Young’s effort went wide of the post.

The last fifteen minutes of this tie belonged to Arklow as they emptied the bench and this seemed to work as they managed to control the play again. This control led to Higgins nearly doubling his tally but his sumptuous volley from outside the box was expertly tipped onto the post by Roche.

The young Arklow front three all sixteen years young were causing the most damage in the last few minutes of the game. With his first touch in the league Cody O’Neill had a goalbound effort kept out before Roche did the same again with a McBride strike .

The home side’s pressure finally paid off with twelve to go as Higgins pressured the opposition before managing to put the ball into the net from a narrow angle.

With five minutes left it looked like United were well in control and managed to extend there lead when McBride broke away and produced a cultured finish to get his first goal of the season.

With the final whistle imminent a  Davis free kick found substitute James Keeley in the box to ensure victory for the home side.

Arklow United B:Paddy Gannon,Naoise Treacy,Dillon Mordaunt,Ray Davis,Nathan Carr,Niall Higgins,Tomas O’Reilly,Tom Connors,Faysal Muse,Stephen Byrne,James McBride.

Subs Used:James Keeley for Tomas O’Reilly,Cody O’Neill for Faysal Muse.

Aughrim United:Shane Roche,Aron Gannon,Luke Brown,Dylan Lynch,Michael Duster,Tim Ivers,Kyle Moules,Michael Young,James Doyle,Eamon Kennedy,Adrian Stokley.

Subs Used:Dylan Stapleton for Eamon Kennedy,Keelan Stapleton for Michael Duster,Cormac Keegan for Kyle Moules

Referee: Dominique Lachaussee

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wicklow/sport/soccer/higgins-hits-double-in-arklow-united-victory-against-aughrim-rangers/a1044008826.html

McMullen Cup

Good Counsel New Ross 34

Skerries Community College  22

Wicklow Rugby Club 

Eoin Horkan 

Good Counsel New Ross produced a strong all-round performance to overcome Skerries Community College 34–22 in an entertaining and at times tense encounter at Wicklow Rugby Club, with late drama ensuring the result was not secured until the closing stages.

Played in glorious Summer weather the New Ross made a fast start and quickly imposed themselves physically, with their forward pack laying a solid platform. Their early pressure paid off when No.12 James McDonald crossed for the first of his two tries, finishing off a well-worked move through midfield. Full-back Barry Furlong narrowly missed the opening conversion but soon made amends with a well-struck penalty to extend the lead.

Skerries responded with determination and showed glimpses of their attacking threat, but Good Counsel’s defensive organisation held firm. Tom Bolger at No.8 was particularly influential, carrying strongly and breaking tackles, and he powered over for his first try to give the New Ross side further control of the contest.

Despite a yellow card for Skerries midway through the first half, Good Counsel were unable to fully capitalise, although McDonald added his second try before the interval. Furlong, who endured a mixed day from the tee, missed another conversion attempt late in the half. Nevertheless, Good Counsel went into the break with a deserved eight point  lead.

The second half saw the south Wexford come out with renewed intensity. Furlong slotted a conversion early in the half after another well-constructed attack, and Bolger grabbed his second try of the game, underlining his dominance in the loose. At this stage, Good Counsel looked firmly in control.

However, momentum shifted in the 52nd minute when Good Counsel were reduced to 14 players following a yellow card. The opposition  took advantage of the extra space and began to build phases, applying sustained pressure on the New Ross defence. Although Furlong added another conversion during this period, he also saw an effort come back off the post, reflecting the fluctuating nature of the contest.

Winger Lee Whitty added what appeared to be a decisive try late in the game, finishing clinically in the corner after a sweeping backline move. Furlong converted one of his later attempts and also added another successful kick with ten minutes remaining, helping to stretch the lead.

Yet Skerries refused to fade and mounted a late surge, scoring two quick tries in the closing stages to make the game nervy for Ne Ross Their persistence was rewarded, and with Good Counsel also seeing a second player sent to the sin bin in the final minute, the pressure mounted.

In the end, however, Good Counsel held their composure to secure a deserved 34–22 victory. Their clinical finishing, particularly from McDonald and Bolger, along with Furlong’s contributions from the tee, proved decisive, while Skerries will take encouragement from their spirited late comeback.

Good Counsel: Philip Murphy,Tommy Byrne,Eoin Rice,Séan Brennan,Padraig Dunleavy;Fionn Kehoe,Mikey Kavanagh,Tom Bolger;Kealen Fahy,Sam Bolger;Sean Walsh,James McDonald,Harry Tritschler,Lee Whitty,Barry Furlong.

Subs Used:Kallen Byrne,Oisin Murphy,Nicholas Furness.

Skerries Community College:Rian Macken,Louis Staunton,Calum Farrely;Billy McCormack,James Staunton;Tom O’Connor,Adam Geran,Harvey Butler;James Walls,Joseph Kilbride;Charlie Hughes,Dylan Woods,Hugo May,Noah Downes, Louis Aoki

Subs Used:Robert Phelan,Darragh Russell,Aaron Kilty,JD Tattan.

Referee Aaron Gernon.

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexford/sport/othersports/good-counsel-capture-mcmullen-cup-senior-rugby-crown/a973380423.html

Wicklow vs Kilkenny Minor

 Wicklow 1-10

Kilkenny 0-2

SETU Carlow 

Eoin Horkan 

This young Wicklos side produced some scintillating  football from start to finish to bring the minor plate back to the Garden county.

It was  a dream start for Wicklow’s  captain Darragh Harper, he managed to put his side two points up early in this tie. The first a free from close range after an early breach from the opposition before he added a second from play minutes later.

Under the lights in Carlow the Cats managed to narrow the gap to the minimum when centre forward Aaron McCormack who finally managed to break through after three minutes of strong Wicklow defending.

Just before the quarter hour mark the lead was back to two when Rhys Behan drove down the wing before firing over from a narrow angle. Both sides were finding it very difficult to break down each other's defences for  the next seven minutes. This was until Roundwood’s Zach Kavanagh powered into the game. He first set up Harper to add another to his account for the night.Then Kavanagh himself  raised two white flags in quick succession from long range. This gave his side a five point lead going in at the break.

Once tie resumed it was KilKenny who struck first with a free from the boot of Ryan Lawlor.Within minutes this was cancelled out when corner back Ronan O Brien found himself in front of the goal to split the posts.

The next ten minutes turned into a stale mate as both back lines seemed to be getting the better of their opponents .This was until the aforementioned Kavanagh won a ball from the kick out before firing over his third of the night.

This score along with emptying the bench paved the way for Wicklow to tag on another couple of scores before the final whistle .

The first of this patch was from midfielder Emmet Harney, before substitute Aaaon Nolan made an immediate impact slotting over from the twenty-one.

It was clear at this point that Wicklow would be bringing the plate back home, just to ensure victory Harper found himself in the right place to bury a goal just before the final whistle.

Wicklow;Eoin Davis;Ronan O’Brien(0-1),Ruairí Fleming,Kalem Buckley;Noah Tyrell,Ben O’Leary,Rhys Behan(0-1);Emmet Harney(0-1),Will O’Connor;Zach Kavanagh (0-3),Kayden McMahon,Conor Cooney;Darragh Haper (1-3 1f),David McCormack,Daniel Connolly.

Subs Used:Aaron Nolan(0-1) for Kayden McMahon,Callum Farrell for David McCormack,Alex McKenna for Kalem Buckley,Tadhg Reardon for Daniel Connolly,Thomas Nolan for Eoin Davis,Aaron Seagrave for Rhys Behan,Finn Walsh for Conor Cooney.

Kilkenny:Andrew Donohue;Paddy McCarthy,Padraig Kavanagh,Cian Murphy;Cian Dalton,David Phelan,Rory Buckley;Kalem Buggy,Andrew Dillon;Jamie Dowling,Aaron McCormack(0-1),Eoin Maher;Hugh Beirne,Ryan Lawlor(0-1f),Finn Gillespie.

Subs Used:Jack O’Driscoll,Sean O’Driscoll,Dara Sweetman,Oisin Maher,Joseph Brennan,Luke Kealy, Joaquim Nolan.

Referee 

Lucy DF Sweden Piece

 For young goalkeeper Lucy Doyle-Farrington, the past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind, twelve days in Sweden representing her country with the Republic of Ireland women's national under-17 football team, gaining experience that will shape the next stage of her football journey.

The call-up was the latest step in a process that began months earlier. Lucy first came into the international setup through a series of training camps before progressing to friendly matches and eventually competitive qualifiers. Each stage brought new challenges, but also the chance to prove herself among the country’s most promising young players.

“It started off with a couple of training camps,” she explained. “Then it went into further friendlies and the first qualifier. After that we had another camp before the next qualifier where they announced the squad.”

That squad travelled to Sweden for a demanding round of fixtures. For the young goalkeeper  , it also meant the longest spell she had spent away from home with the international team.

Despite the excitement, nerves were inevitable.

“There were definitely a few nerves,” she admitted. “But sometimes you just have to use that to your advantage. I was buzzing to go into the camp. A lot of the same girls had been there from the start so we all kind of bounced off each other.”

That familiarity has helped create a strong atmosphere within the group. While competition for places is fierce — no one’s position is ever guaranteed.She said  the squad environment is one where every player supports the other.

“Any player that comes in is welcomed,” she said. “It’s up to you to stay there, but the girls are all so lovely. If you ever need anything you’re never by yourself.”

On the pitch, the tournament proved challenging. Ireland were unlucky not to take a win from the three matches, but the experience of competing at that level was invaluable for the squad’s development.

“There were results we would have liked,” Doyle-Farrington said, “but we went over and gave it a right go. When you look back on it, it’s the experience you take from it.”

One of the standout moments for the Wicklow goalkeeper came in the second match, where she was named Player of the Match after an impressive performance between the posts. Even so, her reaction reflected the team-first mentality she values.

“I didn’t think I’d be in the running,” she said. “It always comes back to the girls. You’re never going to win those awards without everyone around you supporting you.”

While she was delighted with the recognition, the result still mattered most.

“I was really happy, but at the same time I was gutted we didn’t get the result we wanted,” she said. “But there were so many learning curves from it.”

Among those lessons was the importance of enjoying the experience while carrying the responsibility of representing Ireland. She went on to explain how this particular camp helped her grow more comfortable within the group and embrace the moment.

“I kind of let myself be a part of it more — getting involved and everything,” she explained. “That’s something I’ll definitely carry on.”

Looking ahead, the focus is firmly on the future. With potentially two more years at under-17 level, Doyle-Farrington and her teammates are already targeting progress in the next round of qualifiers.

“We’re hoping to get out of Group B next year and get back into League A,” she said. “Everything we learned from this camp is something we can use the next time around.”

For Doyle-Farrington, the journey is still only beginning — but the pride of wearing the green jersey is already clear.

“Whether it goes your way or not,” she said, “you have to put pride into everything you do when you wear that jersey.”

The Arklow native is proudly sponsored by Bolands Arklow and J4K Midlands.

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wicklow/sport/soccer/the-future-is-in-safe-hands-with-wicklow-goalkeeper-lucy-doyle-farrington/a123573855.html