Northern Ireland’s Women’s Under-19 and Women’s U17 teams will both be in action in Turkey this week.
The WU19s will be coming up against senior sides in the Alanya Gold City Women’s Cup, while the WU17s are also set to play up an age level at the WU19 Mediterranean Pearls tournament. Both competitions are being staged at the Gold City Sports Complex in Alanya on Turkey’s southern coast.
With the senior women’s team competing in the Pinatar Cup in Spain next week, Alfie Wylie’s WU19s are replacing them at the Gold City Cup this year.
Their opposition in Turkey will be Kenya, Ghana and Chile, while the WU17s are due to face Belarus and Slovakia in group games at the Under-19 tournament followed by placement matches.
Wylie’s WU19 squad includes Blackburn Rovers Ladies goalkeeper Lauren Perry, who already has several senior caps under her belt, and a raft of players with NIFL Women’s Premiership experience. He will also be overseeing the WU17 squad, which features several up and coming young players.
The WU19s will get their Gold Cup campaign under way next Wednesday (4 March) with a match against Kenya (1800 local time) before facing the Ghanaians next Saturday (1800) and then Chile on Tuesday 10 March (1500 start).
The WU17s will be in action against Belarus next Wednesday (1500) and Slovakia next Saturday (1100), with the placement matches the following Monday or Tuesday.
Northern Ireland WU19 squad for Alanya Gold Cup in Turkey:
Goalkeepers - Lauren Perry (Blackburn Rovers Ladies), Maddie Clifford-Harvey (Crusaders Strikers).
Defenders – Beth Chalmers, Kirsty Cameron and Sasha Clare (all Crusaders Strikers), Fi Morgan and Shona Davis (both Cliftonville Ladies), Naomi Donnan (Linfield Ladies), Aimee-Lee Peachey (Glentoran Women).
Midfielders – Beth Smyth (Manchester City Women), Mia Fitzsimmons (Linfield Ladies), Jessica Rea and Holly Otter (both Crusaders Strikers), Grainne O’Casey (from USA), Caitlin Chapman (Stoke City Women), Sophie Megaw (Lisburn Rangers).
Forwards – Joely Andrews and Kerry Beattie (both Glentoran Women), Cora Morgan (Linfield Ladies), Faith Johnston (Crusaders Strikers).
Northern Ireland WU17 squad for Mediterranean Pearls tournament in Turkey:
Goalkeepers – Rachel Norney (Cliftonville Ladies), Kaicee Griffin (West Bromwich Albion Women).
Defenders – Ella Haughey, Aimee Neal and Caoimhe Mulholland (all Lisburn Rangers Ladies), Grace McKimm (Linfield Ladies), Grace Clancy (Manchester City Women).
Midfielders – Freja Scott (Needham Market - ENG), Ellie Mae Dickson and Helen Parker (Lisburn Rangers Ladies), Erin Montgomery (Cliftonville Ladies), Eve Reilly (Windmill Stars), Leah Wilgaus (Crusaders Strikers), Sienna Leckey (Linfield Ladies), Kelsey Chambers (Carnmoney Ladies).
Forwards – Mia Rowan (Linfield Ladies), Maura Paterson (Glasgow Girls), Cara Tumelty (Lisburn Rangers).
