The Ireland U-19 women's team pictured at their match versus Croatia. The team included three Athlone Town players, Hazel Donegan, Aoife Murphy O'Connor and Mary Philips.

Athlone Town quartet help Ireland U19s reach Euro finals

Kieran Galvin

Published: Tue 9 Apr 2024, 3:38 PM

Last updated: Tue 9 Apr 2024, 3:44 PM

Four Athlone Town players are part of the Republic of Ireland squad which has qualified for the UEFA Women’s Under-19 European Championships for the first time since 2014.

Goalkeeper Katie Keane started last week’s 4-1 victory over Iceland in Ireland’s opening UEFA European Championship qualifying group game, and the 1-0 win over Austria which followed on Saturday last. Those victories clinched a place in the finals tournament in Lithuania this summer.

A Women’s FAI Cup medal winner with Athlone Town last season, Keane is from Ratoath in Meath.

Athlone native Hazel Donegan, Aoife Murphy O'Connor from Tullamore and Mary Philips from Laois, all of whom also play for Athlone Town, started the 3-0 win over Croatia today (Tuesday). Indeed, Murphy O'Connor scored Ireland's third goal in the win over Croatia.

A talented striker, Donegan was part of two Athlone Community College teams (U-20 and U-17) which won Leinster titles this year and she has also shown considerable prowess in Gaelic football with Garrycastle.

TUS Midlands student Eve Dossen, who plays for Galway United, was on the starting XI for the games against Iceland and Austria, as was Ellen Dolan from Mucklagh, near Tullamore.

In the game against Iceland, played in Croatia last Wednesday, Ireland fell behind on 36 minutes but they drew level courtesy of a 56th-minute own goal. Goals from Jodie Loughrey, Hannah Healy and Joy Ralph then sealed the victory for Ireland.

A second-half goal from Shamrock Rovers forward Ralph proved to be the difference against Austria, in a game where both teams had a player sent off, with Ireland’s Freya Healy picking up two yellow cards late on.

The games against Iceland and Austria took place in Sesvete, a district of the Croatian capital Zagreb.

Having already qualified for the finals tournament, head coach Dave Connell made eight changes to the starting line-up for the Croatia game in Karlovac as more players were given a chance to impress.

Team captain Kate Thompson opened the scoring against Croatia on 23 minutes, before Wexford forward Ceola Bergin doubled the lead on 37 minutes and put Ireland firmly in control. Aoife Murphy O'Connor netted a third goal on 85 minutes to wrap up another deserved victory, making it three wins in a row.

Ireland (vs Iceland): Katie Keane; Meabh Russell, Kate Thompson, Aoife Kelly, Eve Dossen, Jodie Loughrey; Sophie Morrin, Jess Fitzgerald; Ellen Dolan, Joy Ralph, Lia O’Leary. Subs used: Hannah Healy for Loughrey (64 mins), Freya Healy for Morrin (78), Rola Olusola for Ralph (86).

Ireland (vs Austria): Katie Keane; Meabh Russell, Kate Thompson, Aoife Kelly, Eve Dossen, Jodie Loughrey; Sophie Morrin (Freya Healy, 71 mins), Jess Fitzgerald; Ellen Dolan, Joy Ralph (Rola Olusola, 83), Lia O’Leary (Hannah Healy, 69).

Ireland (vs Croatia): Jayne Merren; Aoife Turner, Kate Thompson (Aoife Kelly, 46 mins), Mary Philips, Lia O'Leary; Jess Fitzgerald (Jodie Loughrey, 46), Hannah Healy (Ellen Dolan, 32); Rola Olusola (Meabh Russell, 74), Hazel Donegan, Aoife Murphy O'Connor; Ceola Bergin (Joy Ralph, 79).