U17 Women's Squad ready for Elite Phase
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The Republic of Ireland Women’s U17 squad will assemble in Dublin to finalise their preparations for next week’s UEFA U17 Women’s European Championship Elite Phase group in Austria.
Ireland are in Group 2 along with Norway, Poland and hosts Austria and the winners will qualify for the finals in Nyon, Switzerland, in June.
Dave Connell’s side qualified for the Elite Phase after winning Group 9 in the First Round with a 100 per cent record against Finland, Georgia and hosts Belarus
Connell has made four changes to the squad which qualified with Brooke Dunne, Shannon Carson, Rachel Doyle and Jessica Gargan coming in for Amy Corcoran, Megan Lynch, Megan Kelleher and Sara McGeough.
The squad was finalised following an extensive six month programme involving 30 players which included camps in January, February and March as well as each player following a personal strength and conditioning programme. It culminated in a camp at Fota Island, Cork, last week which included games against Cork Women’s FC and the Springfield Ramblers Boys U15 side both of which ended in 1-1 draws.
“It was a tough day at the office last week when we had to pick the squad and was probably the toughest decision I have had to make in my managerial career,” said Connell who previously managed Limerick and Galway United in the League of Ireland. “There were so many good players to choose from and every one of them had worked very hard over the last couple of months. From past experience we know that fitness levels are extremely important at this stage of the competition so that would have been the deciding factor.”
The squad will gather in Dublin tomorrow for two days of fine-tuning before flying out to Austria on Sunday to continue preparations for their opening game on Tuesday against Poland in St Polten. They then face Austria on Thursday in Neulengbach before returning to St Poltan for the final game against top seeds Norway on Easter Sunday.
“Norway are obviously the team to beat as they are the top seeds but our focus will be on getting something out of the opening game which will keep us alive for Thursday and Easter Sunday. We have a good squad and we are quietly confident that we can do well.”
Only the group winners will go through to the four-teams finals at the Colovray Stadium in Nyon with the semi-finals taking place on June 25 when the Group 2 winners will face the Group 3 winners, a group which includes defending champions Germany and Denmark, whom Ireland beat and drew in two friendlies in Dublin last September. This will be the last time the finals will be restricted to four teams as it expanding to an eight team finals next year when it will be held in England.
Connell has only one worry heading into the weekend and he is keeping his fingers crossed that Lisa Casserly of Castlebar Celtic comes through a fitness test and is cleared to travel. If she doesn’t make it her place will be taken by Roma McLaughlin of Moville.
Republic of Ireland U17 Women’s Squad:
Chelsea Noonan (Douglas Hall),
Brooke Dunne (Peamount United),
Keeva Keenan (WFTA),
Rebekah Carroll (Shamrock Rovers),
Lauren Dwyer (Wexford Ladies),
Payton Goulding (Minnesota Thunder USA),
Savannah McCarthy (Listowel Celtic),
Shannon Carson (St. Mary’s),
Rachel Doyle (Peamount United),
Ciara Rossiter (Wexford Ladies),
Avril Brierley (St. Joseph’s),
Lisa Casserly (Castlebar Celtic),
Amy O’Connor (Cork Women’s FC),
Amber Barrett (Lagan Harps),
Megan Connolly (College Corinthians),
Jessica Gargan (Peamount United),
Aisling Frawley (Wexford Ladies),
Ciara McNamara (St. Marys, Cork).
Group 2 Schedule
March 26, 2013
Republic of Ireland v Poland, Stadt Sportanlage, St Polten (AUT), 10am (Irish time).
Norway v Austria, Wienerwaldstadion, Neulengbach (AUT), 5.30pm (Irish time).
March 28, 2013
Norway v Poland, Stadt Sportanlage, St Polten (AUT), 10am (Irish time).
Austria v Republic of Ireland, Wienerwaldstadion, Neulengbach (AUT), 5.30pm (Irish time).
March 31, 2013
Republic of Ireland v Norway Stadium: Stadt Sportanlage, St Polten (AUT), 2.30pm (Irish time).
Poland v Austria Stadium, Wienerwaldstadion, Neulengbach (AUT), 2.30pm (Irish time).
