The Northern Ireland Women’s Under-16 squad that will be competing in a UEFA WU16 development tournament in Bulgaria later this month was announced today.
Manager Stevie Graham has chosen a 20-strong panel for the tournament in which Northern Ireland’s opponents will be hosts Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Montenegro.
The Black Sea resort of Albena is playing host to the four-team UEFA tournament. The venue for the matches is the multi-pitch Stadium Albena complex.
First up for Northern Ireland, on Tuesday 14 March, will be a game against the Bulgarians (9am kick-off UK time; 11am in Bulgaria).
Matchday two will see them come up against North Macedonia on Thursday 16 March (9am kick-off UK time), while their final game is versus Montenegro on Sunday 19 March (8am start UK time).
The WU16 squad for the UEFA development tournament is as follows:
Goalkeepers – Abbie Smith (Crusaders Strikers), Kate Smith (Larne Ladies).
Defenders – Ellen Hampton, Eden Donnan and Laurie Bell (all Linfield Ladies), Caitlin Carlisle, Lillie Horner and Jessica Mulholland (all Crusaders Strikers), Anastasija Stanyte (Craigavon City), Kirsten Farley (Glentoran Women).
Midfielders – Jessica McGuinness and Niamh Hassan (both Crusaders Strikers), Zoe Knox and Eva Myles (both Linfield Ladies), Erin Boyle (Glentoran Women).
Forwards –Anna Walsh and Clodagh Maguire (both Glentoran Women), Mia Reilly (Crusaders Strikers), Gracie Conway (Ballyclare Comrades Ladies), Sophie Kelly Bradley (Lisburn Rangers).
Image: Gracie Conway, seen here in action for Northern Ireland’s WU17s in a Euro qualifier against Austria back in October, has been included in the squad for the WU16 development tournament this month.
