A solitary goal courtesy of Captain Hannah Healy of Holy Faith Secondary School in Clontarf was enough to see the Republic of Ireland Schools claim an empathic three in-a-row in the Bob Docherty Cup.

Richard Berekey’s side faced a very powerful Scottish outfit and the game turned out to be a real physical battle for the Irish girls.

A vomiting bug in camp last night caused concern with two casualties in Shauna Sheahan (Mount Mercy College, Cork) and Emma Meaney (Ardscoil Mhuire, Corbally) but the latter lined out despite the ill effects.

The first pop at goal was from Ireland with 12 minutes on the clock as Orlaith Doherty (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar) narrowly missed the target. The Donegal lass also attempted to set up Cache Crumlish (Carndonagh CS) and Kiera Sena (Coláiste an Chraoibín, Fermoy) as her pull back was squared into a packed box but the duo just missed out on connecting with the ball.

Then it was all Scotland as Laura Berry had multiple chances of converting. Her first opportunity was dragged wide of the post, the second saved bravely by Clodagh Fitzgerald of Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig and her third, a rocket from 25 yards out was brushed wide of the mark.

Scotland’s Olivia Chomczuk also came close in the dying minutes of the first half as it ended scoreless at the break.

The Irish started brightly with the ever present Orlaith Doherty as she chased down the Scottish full back to win the ball back for her side. A fantastic cross was met by Hannah Healy but the Clontarf grad unfortunately missed her range on goal.

The talented Lauryn McCabe (Tallaght CS) won a free kick outside the box which Kiera Sena duly obliged, lashing it into the box but the Scottish keeper intercepted well.

The pacy Cache Crumlish tested the keeper before the Irish break through was made on the hour mark. Hannah Healy headed home from a set-piece.

Again this piece of magic was created by a foul on Lauryn McCabe. Kiera Sena stepped up to take the free and slot it into the danger zone perfectly for Healy to rise highest to thump the ball to the back of the net.

Clodagh Fitzgerald was called into action ten minutes from time to make a finger tip save to deny the Scots. And some wonderful defending from Chloe Wallace (Coláiste Nano Nagle, Sexton Street, Limerick) kept the Irish with the slightest of advantages late on.

The match official called five minutes of added time to the bruising encounter but played at least seven as Scotland hit the woodwork from a late set-piece.

Again and again the Scottish team were awarded free kicks in some dangerous positions but the Irish fought to the bitter end to see the game off and secure the silverware for 2022.

A third win for the Republic of Ireland given that there was no tournament in 2020 or 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Added to this was the John Read Cup which they secured on Monday by defeating England 4-1.

St. Mary’s College, Naas scholar Lucy O’Rourke was announced as the Irish Player of the Match, while Hannah Healy was selected as Player of the Tournament.

Republic of Ireland Women's Under-15 Schools: Clodagh FITZGERALD (Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig), Lucy O’ROURKE (St. Mary’s College, Naas), Chloe WALLACE (Coláiste Nano Nagle, Sexton Street, Limerick), Cache CRUMLISH (Carndonagh Community School), Hannah HEALY © (Holy Faith Secondary School, Clontarf), Orlaith DOHERTY (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar), Kiera SENA (Coláiste an Chraoibín, Fermoy), Amy TIERNEY (John the Baptist Community School, Limerick), Lauryn McCABE (Tallaght Community School), Clodagh DALY (St. Mary’s Secondary School, Nenagh), Keeva FLYNN (St. Mary’s Secondary School, Ballina)

Substitutes Used: Leah McGRATH (St. Anne’s Secondary School, Tipperary) for McCabe (75), Emily FITZGERALD (Coláiste Iognaid, Galway) for Sena (78), Emma DUFFY (Davitt College, Castlebar) for Tierney (80)

Management Staff: Head Coach Richard Berkeley (Sancta Maria College, Louisburgh) Coach Katie McCarthy (Coláiste na Toirbhírte, Bandon), Coach Kaneshia McKinney (Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana) GK Coach Emmet Peyton (St. Muredach’s College, Ballina), Equipment ManagerTessa Mullins (Holy Rosary College, Mountbellew), Performance Analyst Aoife Gibbons (IT Tralee), Physio Denise Callaghan

RESULTS

Sunday, April 10
England 4-0 Northern Ireland
England 2 1-0 Wales

Monday, April 11
Scotland 1-1 England 2 Scotland won on pens
Republic of Ireland 4-1 England

Tuesday, April 12
Northern Ireland 3-4 Republic of Ireland
Scotland 2-1 Wales

Thursday, April 14
Republic of Ireland 1-0 Scotland
England 1-2 Wales
England 2 1-3 Northern Ireland

Bob Docherty Cup | Roll of Honour

YEAR

WINNER

VENUE

2002

Republic of Ireland

Ballymena, Northern Ireland

2003

Scotland

Edinburgh, Scotland

2004

Scotland

Clare, Republic of Ireland

2005

Republic of Ireland

Ballymena, Northern Ireland

2006

Scotland

Dumfries, Scotland

2007***

Republic of Ireland

Wrexham, Wales

2008

Republic of Ireland

Salthill Devon, Galway

2009

Scotland

Belfast, Northern Ireland

2010

Republic of Ireland

Glasgow, Scotland

2011

Northern Ireland

Cardiff, Wales

2012

Northern Ireland

AUL Complex, Dublin

2013

Scotland

Shaws Bridge, Belfast

2014

England

Repton School, Derbyshire

2015

Scotland

Toryglen, Glasgow

2016

England

Dragon Park, Wales

2017

Wales

AUL Complex, Dublin

2018

Republic of Ireland

Ulster University, Jordanstown

2019

Republic of Ireland

Cambrils Park, Salou

2020

NA

COVID-19

2021

NA

COVID-19

2022

Republic of Ireland

Cochrane Park, Newcastle University

***

Renamed Bob Docherty Cup