AIT duo eye Irish Colleges squad honours

TWO Athlone IT students have recently been making major strides with the Ireland Combined Colleges soccer squad. And according to AIT Soccer Facilitator, Maz Sweeney, more international recognition is likely to come the duo's way in the near future. Well known Bealnamulla starlet Aisling Egan, 21, and Kildare native Catriona Dolan (22) were part of the Irish squad which travelled to Scotland last April, and they also won selection to the squad for tournaments in Monaghan and Carrickfergus over the summer months. Both players represent the Athlone IT women's soccer team and helped them win promotion to the WSAI Premier Division last season. They will also be expected to be key players when this season's Premier Division campaign kicks off in the coming weeks. Last April, both players travelled with the Irish squad to Scotland where they trained and played two matches against Hamilton Academical Ladies, winning both ties (11-2 and 5-0). Then on June 30, they played a challenge match against Monaghan Utd Ladies as part of the build-up to the FAI Annual General Meeting, again winning on a 2-1 scoreline. Indeed, Aisling Egan's display in this game at the heart of the Irish defence won the praise of many observers. It was then onto the Carrickfergus International Women's Football Festival where Dolan picked up the top goalscorer award. Unfortunately, Aisling was unable to take part in that particular tournament due to injury. Both students are in the fourth year of a Bachelor of Business in Sport Management course at Athlone IT. Maz Sweeney is confident both players will gain further international spurs in the coming months. "The involvement of Aisling and Catriona in the Irish squad is a great boost to everyone involved in soccer at Athlone IT. They are two outstanding players and are no doubt among the very best women's soccer players to ever represent Athlone IT. They were key players for Athlone IT in last season's First Division promotion and will no doubt be highly influential in this year's Premier Division campaign. The season starts again for Athlone IT very shortly and the next international trials will commence soon after. I'm fully confident both Aisling and Catriona will be in the plans of the Irish set-up once again," said Sweeney.