A Northern Ireland Under-16 girls’ development team will be competing at the SuperCupNI tournament once again this year.
Two years ago a Northern Ireland U16 team won the girls’ premier section at the international youth football tournament, while last year a U16 team were defeated by Manchester United in the decider in the girls’ premier section.
This year Northern Ireland will be facing Manchester United in the group stages (Group B) along with American side Northeast Rush and Dubliners Shamrock Rovers.
The other group (A) in the eight-team U16 premier section features Aston Villa, Brighton and Hove Albion, American outfit Surf Select and Finn Harps from Co Donegal.
Danielle McDowell Tuffey, the Irish FA’s Girls Elite Youth Academy Manager, will act as head coach for the U16s at the tournament. She will be assisted by Julie Nelson.
Although the wider SuperCupNI is largely played in the council areas of Causeway Coast and Glens and Mid and East Antrim, Antrim and Newtownabbey will once again be hosting matches and finals in the girls’ sections (junior and premier).
The Northern Ireland girls’ first game is due to be against Northeast Rush at Dixon Park in Ballyclare on Monday 28 July (4pm), while the following day they will be up against Shamrock Rovers in Monkstown (4pm).
Their third and final group game is scheduled for Wednesday 30 July – against Manchester United at Dixon Park (7.30pm).
Northern Ireland’s placing in the group will then determine if they take part in the final of the Girls’ U16 (Premier) Cup, Globe, Vase or Bowl later that week.
McDowell Tuffey has chosen an 18-strong squad to compete at the tournament. It features the following players:
Goalkeepers – Madison Bell (Lisburn Rangers), Sophie Glover (Crusaders Strikers).
Defenders – Sally Lynch (Sion Swifts Ladies), Holly Hilton (Crusaders Strikers), Sasha Cowan (Bolton Wanderers), Daisy Moore (Crusaders Strikers), Chloe Beckinsale (Crusaders Strikers), Lily-Brooke Wallace (Crusaders Strikers).
Midfielders – Charlotte Havern (Linfield Women), Grace Guest (Rosario), Heidi Curran (Crusaders Strikers), Mirjana Karrabecaj (Linfield Women), Emilee Leacock (Crusaders Strikers).
Forwards – Annarose Robinson (Larne Women), Abbie Smyth (Lisburn Rangers), Maja Stachura (Crusaders Strikers), Ava Hurl (Crusaders Strikers), Ruby Adair (Lisburn Rangers).
