NI U18 SCHOOLGIRLS GAME
26/01/2010
A NORTHERN Ireland U18 Schoolgirl team will take on Australia on Wednesday in a friendly match.
The game will be played at Ashfield Arena, Belfast, kick-off 1pm. A 17 player squad has been named for the game.
Northern Ireland squad:
Alice Harkness – Coleraine High School
Alex Hurst – Our Lady’s Grammar School, Newry
Sarah Gamble – Glenlola Collegiate
Catherine Graham – Enniskillen Collegiate
Lisa Armour – Ballyclare High School
Nicole Connolly – Dominican College, Belfast
Nadene Caldwell – Belfast Metropol College
Megan Weatherall – Newbridge Integrated College
Kendra McMullan – Lisneal College, Derry
Nikita Morgan – Slemish College, Ballymena
Avilla Bergin – Thornhill College
Aoife Lennon – St Catherines College, Armagh
Rachel Laverty – Lagan College, Belfast
Amy Doherty – Antrim Tech
Hayley O’Donnell – Loreto Grammar School, Omagh
Chloe Archibald – St Cecilia’s College, Derry
Lisa Woods – Devenish College
So, who’s who in the squad? We asked Team Coach, Niall Curneen:
Alice Harkness – plays for YMCA and has worked her way through the county excellence system and represented the NI U15 schoolgirls at last year’s Bob Doherty Cup. Has proved herself a very capable goalkeeper at U17 level.
Lisa Woods – has just been called in to the NI set up following an impressive season at her club Fermanagh Mallards. Possess great agility and is a fine shot stopper.
Chloe Archibald – Chloe has been a utility player of the squad, who is more than capable of playing in many positions in defence and midfield. Plays for YMCA ladies who gained promotion this year from the NIWFA Championship.
Alexandra Hurst – another recruit from last year’s U15 Schoolgirls squad. Alex has great pace and loves to get forward from defence. Plays football in a local boys’ league and it shows in her tackling!!
Nicole Connolly – Nicole is another who has made the step up from U15 to U17. She has worked her way up through the Newtownabbey Strikers youth set-up and is comfortable in either defence or midfield roles. Nicole is a very comfortable player on the ball with a great range of passing.
Sarah Gamble – another U15 recruit, Sarah plays her club football at 1st Bangor. She is a competitive player who is a very disciplined defender, with a great ability to pass her way out of any situation.
Cathy Graham – has been part of the U17 set up for the last 18 months. Cathy, who plays for Fermanagh Mallards is a very consistent performer for NI. A great talker and organiser within the team who can read the game very well.
Lisa Armour – Lisa is one of the more experienced players in the squad, who has had a taste of U19 and senior NI football. Has established herself as the number one choice left back for Newtownabbey Strikers. She is very comfortable on the ball and likes to get forward at every opportunity.
Megan Weatherall – another player who has worked her way through the NI set up from U15 level. Megan is versatile player who can play a number of positions from defence to attack. Has played regularly for her club side Newbridge Predators 1st XI and has proved a very competitive player.
Kendra McMullan – another of the YMCA contingent who has been in the setup since the U15 level and was part of the senior squad for the last Senior World Cup Qualifier against Iceland. Possess lots of ability on the ball with a great eye for goal from midfield.
Hayley O’Donnell – Hayley played in last year’s Bob Doherty Cup and played regularly in the premier league for Mid-Ulster Ladies. Hayley is a very confident player who loves to get on the ball and make things happen from midfield.
Nadine Caldwell – the most experienced player in the squad. Nadine plays for Glentoran Belfast United and has been a member of many senior squads over the last two campaigns. Is the engine of any team – she is great at getting forward and making things happen. Also deadly from set pieces in and around the box.
Nikita Morgan – one of the youngest members of the squad but has won her place in the squad due to her recent performances. Represented the U15’s last year and has shown that she is more than capable of playing for the U17’s. Loves to get forward and has a great delivery from the left wing.
Rachel Laverty – the fox in the box! Rachel has been a member of the U17’s for the last 18 months and has been Linfield’s top scorer for the last two seasons. Will finish almost anything that finds her in the 18 yard box. Like all good strikers she loves to have a shot at goal!
Amy Doherty -started playing football just two years ago! Amy has found her feet very quickly and has secured her place playing regularly for Glentoran Belfast United 1st XI and won the IFA Cup with her club this season. Possess lightning pace and impressive fitness levels and can make things happen in the last third of the pitch.
Aoife Lennon – a keen GAA player, who represents her county as well as playing for NI. Aoife has found her way back in to the NI set following a short break. A very comfortable player on the ball who can play in a series of positions in midfield and defence.
Avila Bergin – another YMCA Ladies player who was her club’s top scorer in their promotion season. A member of the last NI Senior squad, she has fantastic pace and plays on the shoulder of the last defender. A very dangerous player who is a great natural finisher.
