Kenny announces Women's U17 squad
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Harry Kenny has announced his squad for the UEFA European Women’s Under 17 Championship 2011-12 second qualifying round. The Irish girls will face France, Norway and Poland with only the top placed team going on to take their place at the knockout finals of the UEFA European Women’s Championships in Nyon at the end of June.
The Irish team will have a tough job on their hands to make it through to the finals as they have to face a French side that reached last year’s final and scored no less than 23 goals in their first qualifying round. Group hosts, Norway, will have a home town advantage in Oslo which they hope will see them through and Poland battled their way to this stage as best runner up from their group stage and will be hoping to draw on their battling qualities to come through this group.
The Republic of Ireland qualified from a tough first qualifying round where they defeated both Romania and Macedonia and drew with Italy conceding just three goals along the way. Kenny will be hoping his charges can emulate the achievements of 2010 when they went all the way to the final.
‘This is a really difficult group as Norway will be very strong at home, Poland will be a big challenge and the French are a real power in women’s football and were very impressive in their first qualifying group. This Irish team is full of confidence and will not care about reputations, they will go into this group full of belief and will fear no one. We will be without Ciara Rossiter who got injured in Belgium but our squad is strong and will be very competitive’
Schedule of Games
Monday, March 19th
Republic of Ireland v France
Briskeby Stadium, 14.00
Wednesday, March 21st
Republic of Ireland v Norway
Briskeby Stadium, 17.15
Saturday, March 24th
Republic of Ireland v Poland
Briskeby Stadium, 13.00
Ireland Squad:
Jillian Moloney (GSA 95 Phoenix Red),Courtney Brosnan (PDA Slammers),Lauren Dwyer (St. Josephs, Carlow),Mary Fitzpatrick (Atlanta Fire),Ciara O’Connell (Cork Ladies League),Shauna Newman (Raheny United),Chloe Mustaki (Peamount United),Lauren Boles (Castlebar Celtic),Carys Johnson (Everton FC),Katie McCabe (Raheny United),Caroline Healy (Peamount United),Amy O’Connor (Wilton United),Michelle Farrell (Longford Town),Amber Barrett (Milford United),Claire Shine (Cork Ladies League),Sarah Rowe (Ballina Town),Grace Wright (Challenge FC),Gemma McGuinness (Greencastle FC)
