In the first international match for the Ireland Under-20 women’s football team, overseen by coach and 2013 Grand Slam winner Niamh Briggs, they showed commendable skills against a seasoned English team in Parma, despite the challenging circumstances. The match was part of the initial Women’s Six Nations Summer Series, which took place under the scorching heat of Italy. The English squad, led by influential captain Lilli Ives Campion who scored twice, held a significant lead of 26-5 at halftime.
The match saw the successful teaming up of UL Bohemian players Kate Flannery and Chisom Ugwueru, scoring a smooth goal in the 21st minute. The rest of the squad showcased their potential in the second half, culminating in Hannah Clarke’s skilful strike in the 70th minute, which offset an earlier score by Lia Green.
Despite ending with a one-sided score of 33-10 in England’s favour, the unified effort from the Irish team, including notable performances from Ruth Campbell, Ivana Kiripati, Beth Buttimer, Clarke and Kelly Burke, holds promise for the forthcoming matches. Next on their schedule is a game against Italy on the coming Tuesday (9am Irish time), followed by a face-off with Scotland, in the final leg, on the following Sunday.
Tori Sellors scored the first try for England, giving a 5-0 lead just a minute into the match, which Lia Green converted to 7-0. 17 minutes in, Lilli Ives Campion added another try, with another Lia Green conversion taking the score to 14-0. Chisom Ugwueru responded for Ireland at the 21-minute mark, improving the score to 14-5, although Kate Flannery couldn’t convert. In the 31st minute, Reneeqa Bonner scored a try for England, but Lia Green couldn’t convert, leaving the score at 19-5. Lilli Ives Campion scored another try for England at 40+1 minutes, converted by Lia Green for a 26-5 score. At 56 minutes, Lia Green scored and then converted her own try, advancing the score to 33-5. Hannah Clarke scored a try for Ireland after 70 minutes, but Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton failed to convert, finalising the score at 33-10.
Players for England U-20 included starters Lia Green, Sophie Hopkins, Millie Hyett, Carmela Morrall, Reneeqa Bonner, Amelia MacDougall, Tori Sellors, Chloe Flanagan, Lucy Calladine, Hannah Sams, Lilli Ives Campion as captain, Tyla Shirley, Anna Richardson, Joia Bennett, and Annabel Meta along with reserves Ellie Roberts, Amelia Williams, Millie David, Samantha Shiels, Jorja Battishill, Niamh Swailes, Kira Leat and Alex Wilkinson.
The Ireland U-20 women’s rugby team consisted of Robyn O’Connor, Hannah Clarke, Lucia Linn, Ellen Boylan, Chisom Ugwueru, Kate Flannery, Jade Gaffney, Hannah Wilson, Beth Buttimer, Sophie Barrett, Ruth Campbell, Jane Neill who served as captain, Brianna Heylmann, Éadaoin Murtagh, and Ivana Kiripati. The substitutions included Clíodhna Ní Chonchobhair, who stepped in for Murtagh at the 34th minute mark, soon followed by Grainne Burke for Wilson, Aoibheann Hahessy for Heylmann, Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton for Boylan all at 55 minutes in. Niamh Gallagher replaced Clarke at 57 minutes, May Goulding came on for Gaffney at 61 minutes, Lily Morris substituted Barrett at 64 minutes and Kelly Burke subbed for Buttimer at 68 minutes. Finally, Murtagh replaced Kiripati at 72 minutes. The game was overseen by French referee Berenice Bralley.