Athlone student selected for Republic of Ireland Schools training camp

An Athlone student has been selected to attend a training camp with the Republic of Ireland Schools girls' squad in Limerick this weekend.

Sophie Byrne of Coláiste Chiaráin, Athlone will be among the 22 trialists at the two-day camp.

The squad will meet up in University of Limerick on Saturday afternoon for a training session, while the Under-15 students will line out against Treaty United U-17s at Markets Field on Sunday, January 28 (2pm).

This will be the first competitive friendly for the extended squad and should prove important as head coach Richard Berkeley attempts to trim the squad to 18 in advance of the SAFIB Bob Docherty Cup which will take place from March 24-28 (Easter break).

The Republic of Ireland will enjoy home advantage for the annual international tournament as Athlone Town AFC has been chosen to host the prestigious event. Ireland have a high success rate in the competition, claiming the silverware as recently as 2022.

Sunday’s game in Limerick will see Berkeley and his staff play two different 11s in either half to access the quality of football against some strong opposition.

The Ireland Schools selection have several assessments scheduled for next month with a friendly pencilled in against Northern Ireland in early March. Berkeley will name his final squad ahead of that fixture.

Republic of Ireland Schools selection: Abbie Duffy (Presentation College, Athenry), Sophie Byrne (Coláiste Chiaráin, Athlone), Anna McGough (Claregalway College), Lucy Doyle Farrington (St. Mary’s College, Arklow), Sophie Hardy (Mount Anville Secondary School), Keelin Comiskey (St. Mac Dara’s Community College, Templeogue), Isabella Talotti (St. Mary’s College, Naas), Lara Dallaghan (Loreto Abbey Secondary School, Dalkey), Sarah Reynolds (Ard Scoil Chiaráin Naofa, Clara), Maisie Quinn (St. Farnan’s Post Primary School, Prosperous), Kassie McLoughlin (Pobalscoil Neasáin, Baldoyle), Alice Buggie (St. Wolstan’s Community School, Celbridge), Karla Moore (Scoil Mhuire Community School, Clane), Emma Mooney (Tullamore College), Mia Murtagh (Mercy Secondary School, Ballymahon), Sarah Doyle (Scoil Mhuire Greenhill, Carrick on Suir), Kaitlyn Delahunty (Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré), Holly O’Hagan (Regina Mundi College, Cork), Molly Kirwan (Presentation Secondary School, Thurles), Eva Loftus (Laurel Hill Coláiste, Limerick), Madison McGuane (Ardscoil Mhuire, Corbally), Eleanor Blake (Laurel Hill Secondary School, Limerick).

Management - head coach: Richard Berkeley (Sancta Maria College, Louisburgh); coaches: Katie McCarthy (Coláiste na Toirbhírte, Bandon), Kaneshia McKinney (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana); goalkeeping coach: Emmet Peyton (St. Muredach’s College, Ballina); equipment manager: Karen Henry (Mulroy College, Milford); performance analyst: Della Doherty; physio: Cianna Hickey.