Athlone Town quartet named on Ireland U-19 squad
Four Athlone Town players have been named on the Republic of Ireland Women's Under-19 squad for two training camps this month.
The four players are goalkeeper Ciara Glackin, midfielders Melissa O'Kane and Muireann Devaney, and attacker Emily Corbet.
The training camps will take place in Limerick from August 8-11 and then again from August 22-25.
Fresh from beating Northern Ireland in two friendly games in June, Ireland are continuing preparations for their UEFA Women's U-19 European Championship qualifiers. These training camps will help head coach Dave Connell identify players for those key games, and there will also be a four-team mini tournament in Portugal in September.
Ireland's group in European Championship qualifiers contains England, Northern Ireland and Switzerland.
Connell said: "We were happy with our performances against Northern Ireland in June, even though we were missing a couple of players. This training camp, broken up into two spells, gives us time to work with a larger selection of players and shape our squad going forward.
"We appreciate that this is a busy period for the players but it's important that we make the most of every opportunity to get on the pitch and work together. That is why these camps have been arranged and why we will be heading to Portugal in September.
"It's also important that we continue to follow Government & Sport Ireland protocols around COVID-19 to ensure everyone remains safe. We fully acknowledge the allowances given to us to host these training camps and we will make the most of the time that we have together," he added.
Meanwhile, Athlone Town played out a 1-1 draw against DLR Waves 1-1 in their SSE Airtricity Women's National League game at the UCD Bowl on Saturday.
Substitute Kellie Brennan scored Athlone's equaliser from a second-half penalty after Jetta Berrill had given the Dublin side the lead. The point lifts the midlanders off the foot of the table.
Leitrim native Muireann Devaney was chosen on the WNL 'Team of the Week' and Athlone Town manager Tommy Hewitt was selected as 'Coach of the Week'.
Republic of Ireland Women's Under-19 Squad
Goalkeepers: Rugile Askalnyte (DLR Waves), Ciara Glackin (Athlone Town), Summer Lawless (Peamount United).
Defenders: Abby Tuthill (Shamrock Rovers), Jenna Slattery (Treaty United), Therese Kinnevey (Galway WFC), Della Doherty (Wexford Youths), Jessie Stapleton (Shelbourne), Chloe McCarthy (DLR Waves), Saoirse Healy (Galway WFC), Eve O'Sullivan (Treaty United), Shauna Brennan (Galway WFC).
Midfielders: Aoibheann Clancy (Wexford Youths), Melissa O'Kane (Athlone Town), Eva Mangan (Cork City), Kate O'Dowd (Peamount United), Teegan Lynch (Sion Swifts), Muireann Devaney (Athlone Town), Marie Reynolds (Shamrock Rovers), Nicola McNamara (Galway WFC).
Forwards: Aoife Horgan (Treaty United), Rebecca Watkins (Peamount United), Erin McLaughlin (Sion Swifts), Emily Corbet (Athlone Town), Kelly Leahy (Cork City), Kerry Brown (Sion Swifts).