A Northern Ireland Under-15/U14 girls’ development side had “an invaluable learning experience” at this year’s Foyle Cup.
More than 400 teams from across the island of Ireland, Britain and North America took part in the week-long tournament.
Sponsored by sportswear firm O’Neills, and run in association with Derry City and Strabane District Council, the Foyle Cup featured 17 categories, ranging from U8 to U19 for boys’ teams plus six girls’/ladies sections.
The 18-strong Northern Ireland Under-15/U14 girls’ development squad registered wins, draws and defeats while competing in the boys’ U13 section.
Head coach Stephen Graham said: “It proved to be a very positive, challenging and invaluable learning experience for all these young players.
“The performance standards produced were of a very good level and it will be exciting to watch their development and progression moving forward.”
In their first game in the U13 Foyle Cup, in Group C, the girls took on Bangor at St Columb’s Park in Derry-Londonderry.
There were good chances for Charley McMullan, Anna Smyth and Mea Foster, and goalkeeper Anna Roberts produced a fine save from a free-kick, before Bangor opened the scoring.
After the interval Grace Guest had a decent effort before the young Seasiders scored a further three goals, including a last minute penalty, to leave the final score at 4-0. Grace Steele was Northern Ireland’s POTM (player of the match).
Game two was against Moyola Park at their home ground in Castledawson.
Northern Ireland started with intensity. Charley McMullan and Grace Murray both had good efforts, while Ellie Tohill put the ball in the net, however she was adjudged to have been in an offside position in the build-up. Moyola scored just before half-time.
The defensive unit of Caitlin Steele, Autumn Edgar, Lacey Mai McVicker and Caitlin Shields played well throughout the match.
Northern Ireland’s passing and build-up play was excellent and they created several chances in the second half, including McMullan hitting the post and Grace Guest’s header going just over the bar, however Moyola held on to win 1-0. Anna Smyth was the POTM.
Their final Group C game saw them take on Ardstraw Youth at Prehen Playing Fields in Derry.
Northern Ireland started strongly and Charley McMullan had an effort on goal before Annarose Robinson hit the post.
Annabelle Shaw then scored an excellent goal, curling the ball into the top corner.
Keeper Anna Roberts did well to keep out a long range shot before Ardstraw scored with a header.
POTM Grace Murray and Grace Guest had further efforts but the game ended in a 1-1 draw. It was an excellent effort from the Northern Ireland girls.
From there they entered another set of matches.
In their first phase two encounter, which was a placement fixture, they defeated Triangle Soccer Schools by five goals to nil at Curragh Road 3G in Derry.
Kacylee Mitchell’s 25-yard blaster opened the scoring in the opening period. Just after the interval Ellie Tohill was played in by Mea Foster and Tohill increased the advantage with a neat finish.
Triangle fashioned some good opportunities but Indie McQuillan and Anayah Lee in defence were able to snuff out any danger.
McMullan made it three with a lovely curler, and Abigail Curley then netted twice, firstly with a shot from outside the area and then slotting home an Annabelle Shaw cross at the back post. The POTM was Lacey Mai McVicker.
In their second match, which was a quarter-final in the Vase competition, they were edged out by St Patrick’s Pumas on penalties at Lisnagelvin in Derry.
In the first half Curley had a shot well saved by the keeper before Shaw hit the post, while St Patrick’s also had chances.
Shaw and McMullan both went close after the break before keeper Hope Nellins made a fine stop.
St Patrick’s took the lead, however McMullan then slotted home a penalty – awarded for a handball – to take the game to a penalty shoot-out. And St Patrick’s won 4-3 on penalties. Anayah Lee was the POTM.
In their final game, which was also a placement fixture, Northern Ireland cut loose, winning by seven goals to one against Coagh United at Artigarvan in Strabane.
Northern Ireland scored in the first minute when POTM Murray finished well from a Shaw cross.
Murray, Mitchell, Robinson and Edgar all had chances before the girls went two up through McMullan.
Early in the second half Mitchell scored a fantastic header from a McMullan corner.
Murray played the ball to Tohill who crossed into the box and Robinson finished well.
Coagh got a goal back before Murray curled a free-kick into the top corner and Guest scored from the penalty spot, while Robinson got her second from a Shaw cross.
The Northern Ireland WU15/U14 squad for the Foyle Cup was as follows:
Goalkeepers – Anna Roberts (Cliftonville Ladies), Hope McKee Nellins (Civil Service Girls).
Defenders – Lacey Mai McVicker and Anayah Lee (both Derry City Women), Grace Steele (Glentoran Women), Autumn Edgar (Larne Women), Indie McQuillan (unattached), Caitlin Shields (Linfield Women).
Midfielders – Anna Smyth, Mea Foster and Grace Murray (all Crusaders Strikers), Grace Guest (Rosario), Kacylee Mitchell (Derry City Women).
Forwards – Abigail Curley and Annarose Robinson (both Larne Women), Annabelle Shaw and Ellie Tohill (both Glentoran Women), Charley McMullan (Crusaders Strikers).
