Lucy DF Germany Piece

 Lucy Shines in Germany as Ireland Secure Third Seeding – Wicklow Star Shares Inspiring Moment with Diane Caldwell

Wicklow’s rising soccer star, Lucy Doyle Farrington  returned home this week full of pride and purpose after a memorable 10-day European tournament in Germany with the Republic of Ireland U17 squad. The trip followed on from her successful tournament in Italy earlier this year – but this latest outing proved a significant step up, both on and off the pitch.

Before flying to Germany, Ireland played a crucial friendly against Northern Ireland – the last chance for players to stake their claim for a seat on the plane. Lucy admits that those are the toughest games of all.

“Someone is always going to miss out, and it could be you,” she said. “You have to stay focused, but I was lucky enough to be picked.”

Once in Germany, Ireland faced three powerhouse opponents: France, Belgium and hosts Germany.

Ireland opened against France, a daunting test by any measure.

“The first game was a shock to the system,” Lucy said. “We knew France would be extremely tough, but the performance was amazing. People might say we could have got more from it, but to look back at that display… it was something we were really proud of.”

The second fixture against Belgium had major stakes attached. A win would secure Ireland third  seeding for the next championship cycle – and the team delivered in style.

“You could sense it from the morning – there was a different buzz,” Lucy explained. “There was a desire to win because we knew what was on the line. From the second we hit the pitch there was hunger everywhere. Even when Belgium drove forward ,we kept our heads and most importantly a clean sheet. It was: ‘Right this feels good we are on the right path.

Ireland got the job done, earning a deserved victory and sealing that all-important third seeding.

The final game was against the hosts, Germany, a nation playing at a consistently high standard. Ireland competed bravely but the legs were heavy after a demanding week, and Germany claimed the win.

“We left everything out there from day one – in training and every match,” Lucy said. “We did what we came to do and even had the chance to do better than expected. We were proud.”

The week provided an unexpected bonus when Irish senior international Diane Caldwell arrived unannounced and remained with the squad throughout. Lucy had a one-to-one chat with the World Cup defender that she says she’ll never forget.

“The pride she has in the jersey is unbelievable,” Doyle Farrington  said. “She wants to give back and help us improve. I came out of that chat feeling like a new person. She told me her slogan – ‘Fake it till you make it’ – and that’s going to stick with me forever.”

With experiences like that in the bank, Wicklow’s young talent returns home more motivated than ever.