The prestigious Gaynor Cup soccer competition got underway this week – with a number of Laois players taking part.
This is the premier soccer competition for girls in Ireland and is played at U-14 level.
26 teams from across the country are battling it out to become the best region in University of Limerick.
In total, there are 15 Laois players representing two teams – ten with Carlow, four with the Midlands and one with Kilkenny.
The Midlands are captained by Abbeyleix’s Roisin Bradley and also contain Mountmellick trio Sarah Burke, Ciara Conroy and Lilly-Mae Conroy.
They took part in Group 1 of the competition and won all three games to qualify straight for the Cup semi finals.
They began on Monday by defeating Kilkenny 2-0 and then secured top spot by dispatching Cavan-Monaghan 4-0.
They concluded the group phase with a 1-0 win over Donegal ending this phase without conceding a goal.
The team have already enjoyed success this year in the Inter-league.
They brought home the U-14s girls national shield trophy after an extra time win against a good Kilkenny team.
They now have received a bye through the quarter finals and will play the semi final on Thursday.
The nine Laois players who are representing Carlow are split evenly between Killeshin and St Fiacc’s.
Ciara Milton, Laura Malone, Emma Malone, Lucie O’Rielly and Cara English all belong to Killeshin while Ashlee Smith, Hanna Kerfah, Ellie Maher, Nicole Osborne and Jasmine Doyle are with St Fiacc’s.
They took on Limerick District in Round 1 and defeated them 4-2 with Ciara Milton netting a hat-trick.
On Tuesday, they edged out Wexford on a 2-1 scoreline with the excellent Milton getting both goals.
Carlow ensured they earned top spot with a 4-2 win over Mayo as Ciara Milton took her tally to seven goals with another brace.
Carlow have now qualified for the quarter finals where they will take on Galway at 5pm this evening.
Kilkenny were in The Midlands’ group and finished second with four points.
They have Lucy Kelly of Durrow Lions in their ranks and are in the Bowl quarter final against Cork this afternoon at 3pm.
MIDLANDS GAYNOR CUP SQUAD 2023
Aoibheann Slattery (Birr Town FC)
Chloe Glynn (St Josephs FC)
Christina Waldron (Belnamulla LFC)
Alison Judge (Killeigh FC)
Roisin Bradley (Abbeyleix FC)
Erin McHugh (Temple Villa FC)
Leah Stack (Killeigh FC)
Emma Mooney (Killeigh FC)
Neasa Trainor (Ballinahown FC)
Sophie Byrne (Willow Park FC)
Leah Concannon (Ballinahown FC)
Niamh Coughlan (Killeigh FC)
Caoilfhinn Brett (Hodson Bay Celtic FC)
Kacey-Lee Finnmor (Tullamore Town FC)
Sophie Padden (Temple Villa FC)
Ellen Gorman (Killeigh FC)
Sarah Burke (Mountmellick United FC)
Ciara Conroy (Mountmellick United FC)
Lilly-Mae Conroy (Mountmellick United FC)
CARLOW GAYNOR CUP SQUAD 2023
Carla Byrne (Vale Wanderers)
Ellie Maher (St Fiacc’s)
Anna Cullen (Burrin Celtic)
Grainne Grennan (Ballymurphy Celtic)
Natalia Deka (Nurney Villa)
Siobhan Sinnott (New Oak)
Aoife Bergin (Burrin Celtic)
Nicole Osborne (St Fiacc’s)
Laura Malone (Killeshin)
Anna Gurhy (New Oak)
Jasmine Doyle (St Fiacc’s)
Abby Kepple (Burrin Celtic)
Lucie O’Reilly (Killeshin)
Cara English (Killeshin)
Ciara Milton (Killeshin)
Emma Malone (Killeshin)
Eimear Bolger (Burrin Celtic)
Keelie Doyle (Burrin Celtic)
Ashlee Smith (St Fiacc’s)
Hanna Kerfah (St Fiacc’s)
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