Lucy DF Italy Feature Piece

 

Wicklow’s  Lucy Doyle-Farrington is enjoying a whirlwind rise through the ranks of Irish football, fresh from a victory in the women’s U17 football tournament in Italy with the Republic of Ireland under-17s in Italy and appearing on the bench for Wexford Youths’ senior side.

The 15-year-old goalkeeper has long been tipped as one to watch, but the past few weeks have underlined her potential. Doyle-Farrington travelled to Italy with the Irish U17 squad after impressing in recent trials, and she returned home as a tournament winner.

Ireland faced North Macedonia, Slovenia, and hosts Italy in the competition, keeping clean sheets across the board. Doyle-Farrington featured in both the North Macedonia and Italy fixtures, the latter a tense final that ended in a 1–0 win for the Girls in Green. “The nerves were high before kick-off,” she admitted, “but once I walked out on the pitch I knew I just had to focus on what I could do. Keeping a clean sheet in the final was amazing, and celebrating with the girls and the staff afterwards was a moment I’ll never forget.”

Her international rise has been complemented by steady progress at club level. Having signed for Wexford Youths’ under-19s this year, she has been training and playing across the U17 and U19 setups, benefiting from the club’s reputation for developing young talent. “Wexford is an absolutely amazing club to grow at,” she said. “The coaches have pushed me to improve every week.”

That progress was recognised recently when Doyle-Farrington was called up to the senior matchday squad for Wexford’s league clash with Athlone Town. Though only a substitute on the day, the call-up marked another significant step in her career. “It was an honour I didn’t expect so soon,” she explained. “To even be considered was amazing, and to be in that environment gave me huge confidence.”

Much of her development, she insists, is down to the guidance she has received at both national and club level. The National Academy has provided not just high-quality training but also education in areas such as nutrition and off-pitch preparation. “The coaches are incredible,” Doyle-Farrington said. “They’ll answer any question and help in any way they can. It makes such a difference.”

Looking ahead, the Arklow  teenager is determined to keep pushing herself. With the possibility of stepping up to Ireland’s U19s and chasing further senior minutes with Wexford, Doyle-Farrington knows the next year could be defining. “It’s all about working hard and performing at the level I know I can,” she said.