Ava completes Italian job with Ireland
The Republic of Ireland U17 girls who beat host nation Italy 1-0 to win the tournament after scoring eleven goals and conceding none. Ava Hallinan from Enniscrone is first from left on the front row.
Enniscrone teenager Ava Hallinan played her part in a historic win for Irish soccer last Sunday.
The Ireland Women's Under-17s beat host nation Italy 1-0 to win an International Tournament in the Stadio Gino Colaussi. The tournament had also featured North Macedonia and Slovenia.
Ava Hallinan, who began her career with Kilglass/Enniscrone United and who now plays for Sligo Rovers, operated on the left side of defence for the Girls in Green, with a right-footed finish from Kassie McLoughlin proving to be the difference as Ireland capped off a fine display by claiming the trophy.
It was the team’s this straight clean sheet having beaten Slovenia 4-0 and North Macedonia 6-0.
With UEFA European Championship Qualifiers coming up next month against Belgium, France and Germany, manager James Scott was keen to make the most of this tournament and his squad certainly did that with 11 goals scored and none conceded.
Playing Italy away was always going to be Ireland’s toughest test but they kept their composure, moved the ball quickly and were a threat on the break. They matched their opponents in every area of the pitch and it made for an entertaining contest.
Ireland finally found the breakthrough on the hour mark when Shelbourne's Halle Harcourt controlled a long pass and squared the ball to Shamrock Rovers ace McLoughlin to fire in from inside the penalty area.
Ava Hallinan is a student at Jesus and Mary Secondary School in Enniscrone.
