NI U19 GIRLS ALL SET FOR MINI TOURNAMENT
Release Date: 15/09/2011 – IFA website
NORTHERN Ireland’s Under-19 ladies travel to Belgium today for their UEFA European Women’s Under-19 Championship Mini Tournament.
Alfie Wylie’s squad face tournament hosts Belgium, Romania and Lithuania in the week-long tournament.
Despite several key players being unavailable, Wylie is confident that his young squad can make an impact in the group. Kirsty McGuinness and Lauren Wade are both injured, whilst Kendra McMullan has not been released by her University in the USA where she is on a soccer scholarship.
“We have a good squad with us this week and although some players are missing, this has given other players the opportunity to come in and stake a claim for their place in the team” said Wylie.
“We recently played Portugal in a double header and this has given the girls more confidence ahead of this tournament. Although we lost 3-0 in one of the games we drew 1-1 in the other and it is this level of performance that the girls are hoping to take into our game against Belgium on Saturday.”
Hosts Belgium are top seeds in the group after playing in the finals of the UEFA European Women’s Under-17 Championships with many of that squad making the step up to Under-19 level. Despite their favourites tag, the Belgian game is one that Wylie is looking forward to.
“Starting with a game against the top seeds and hosts is a great motivation for the girls to go out and put in a strong performance. We played the Romanians last year so there will be no surprises there, and that leaves us with a final game against Lithuania were we hope to finish the group off with another good performance.”
Wylie concluded: “I would also like to thank the schools for allowing the girls time off to travel to Belgium for the mini tournament.”
UEFA WOMEN’S UNDER 19 CHAMPIONSHIPS 2011-12 QUALIFYING ROUND MINI TOURNAMENT
ANTWERP, BELGIUM; 15-23 SEPTEMBER 2011
GOALKEEPERS
Alice Harkness – Glentoran Belfast United
Nicole Adams – Linfield Ladies
DEFENDERS
Laura Nicholas – YMCA Ladies
Nicole Connolly – Crusaders Newtownabbey Strikers
Sarah Gamble – 1st Bangor Ladies
Holly Campbell – 1st Bangor Ladies
Jennifer McDade – Crusaders Newtownabbey Strikers
Ellie Butterwick – Watford Ladies
MIDFIELDERS
Alex Hurst – Banbridge Ladies
Hayley O’Donnell – Mid Ulster Ladies
Aoife Lennon – Newry City Ladies
Louise McFrederick – Fermanagh Mallards
Jessica Moorehead – Sion Swifts
Chloe Archibald – YMCA Ladies
FORWARDS
Simone Magill – Mid Ulster Ladies
Lauren Brennan – Sion Swifts
Nicole Graham – Valley Rangers
Jessica Foy – Glentoran Belfast United
