Ireland all set for Cyprus Cup

The 2014 Cyprus Cup kicks off Wednesday March 5 across four of the top stadiums the Mediterranean island has to offer.

 

The prestigious women’s international tournament will showcase some of the world’s best talent from leading athletes such as six time FIFA World Player of the Year nominee, Christine Sinclair.

 

Sinclair is captain of the Canadian Women’s National Team and Portland Thorns who won the inaugural National Women’s Soccer League in the US last year.

 

Ireland’s own national team are flying out on Monday to prepare for their first group match against New Zealand on Wednesday afternoon at 14:30pm in Tasos Marko Paralimni Stadium.

 

Ireland finished top of their group in last year’s tournament, returning home as eight place victors. The girls in green performed exceptionally well in the 2013 international programme, having lost only one out of their eight games.

 



Three groups of four teams will battle it out for a total of four days, aiming to land first place in their own groups. The teams receive a break at the weekend before more group matches on Monday. The finals will take place on Wednesday March 12th.

 

The Groups are as follows:

Group A: Canada, England, Finland, Italy.

Group B: Australia, France, Netherlands, Scotland.

Group C: New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Korea and Switzerland.



 

Favourites this year are Olympic 2012 bronze medallists Canada and last year’s Cup winners, France. France have proved themselves to be a competitive mid-tier team since the start of the new millennium having achieved fourth place in the 2011 Women’s World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany.

 

SQUAD:  

Goalkeepers: Emma Byrne (Arsenal), Niamh Reid-Burke (Raheny United). 

Defenders: Yvonne Tracy (Arsenal), Sophie Perry (Millwall), Meabh de Burca (Galway WFC), Louise Quinn (Eskilstuna United), Diane Caldwell (Avaldsness), Megan Campbell (Florida State University), Karen Duggan (Peamount United). 

Midfielders: Julie Ann Russell (Peamount United), Rachel Graham (Raheny United), Ciara Grant (Raheny United), Siobhan Killeen (Raheny United), Niamh Fahey (Arsenal), Dora Gorman (Peamount United), Aileen Gilroy (Castlebar Celtic), Shannon Smyth (Amazon Grimstad), Emma Hansberry (Castlebar Celtic). 

Forwards: Fiona O’Sullivan (SC Frieburg), Denise O’Sullivan (Glasgow City), Stephanie Roche (Peamount United), Ruesha Littlejohn (Glasgow City), Áine O’Gorman (Peamount United).

 

 

Ireland’s Cyprus Cup Schedule

March 5, Cyprus Cup: New Zealand v Republic of Ireland

March 7, Cyprus Cup: Republic of Ireland v South Korea

March 10, Cyprus Cup: Switzerland v Republic of Ireland

March 12, Cyprus Cup: Positional Play-off.

 

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