Athlone Community College: National Cup final player profiles

The Athlone CC Under-17 girls' soccer team will face Presentation College, Athenry in the FAI Schools Junior Girls National Cup final tomorrow (Wednesday).

The Athlone girls will have the benefit of home advantage at the Athlone Town Stadium, with the kick-off now 11am, having been brought forward from the original time of 12.00.

It has been a very memorable few months for Athlone CC with Leinster titles won at both senior and junior level, and now they are hoping to add a national crown to their achievements.

Athlone CC defeated Loreto, Kilkenny in the Leinster Cup final 3-1 and then went on to overcome Presentation SS, Thurles by the same scoreline in the National Cup semi-final.

The ACC team is coached by Eden Mention and captained by Hazel Donegan. Profiles of the squad follow below.

Ella Naughton

Favourite position: goalkeeper.

Club: Longford Town FC.

Favourite pre-match song: Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).

Toughest opponent: Hazel Donegan.

Player on team you would like to be for a day and why: Ciara Walsh because of her work rate.

Biggest inspiration: my granny.

Best sporting memory: Being called up for Irish trials.

Roisin O’Brien

Favourite position: centre-back.

Favourite pre-match song: Murder on the Dancefloor.

Toughest opponent: Hazel.

Player on team you would like to be for a day and why: Hazel Donegan, I think that says enough.

Biggest inspiration: Aoife Walsh.

Best sporting memory: U13 MSL.

Rebecca Keenan

Favourite position: left-back.

Favourite pre-match song: Waka Waka

Toughest opponent: Alison Nugent.

Player on team you would like to be for a day: Ella Naughton.

Biggest inspiration: Ms Edel Menton.

Best sporting memory: Barcelona trip.

Ciara Walsh

Favourite position: midfield.

Club: Athlone Town AFC.

Favourite pre-match song: Gecko (Overdrive), Becky Hill.

Toughest opponent: Ellen Dolan.

Player on team you would like to be for a day and why: Hazel because she’s so coolio.

Biggest inspiration: Lauren James.

Best sporting memory: U12 Friday night training with Hodson Bay Celtic.

Juliet Shine

Favourite position: centre-back.

Favourite pre-match song: Just Wanna Rock (Lil Uzi Vert).

Player on team you would like to be for a day and why: Gav’ (Caitlin Gavin) because she’s got skills.

Biggest inspiration: Ms Menton.

Best sporting memory: Barcelona trip.

Caoilfhinn Brett

Favourite position: striker

Club: Hodson Bay Celtic FC.

Favourite pre-match song: Giants (Dermot Kennedy).

Toughest opponent: Hazel because she’s fast and very skilful.

Player on team you would like to be for a day and why: Ciara Walsh because she’s so funny and gets the team hyped up.

Biggest inspiration: Katie McCabe.

Best sporting memory: Playing in the Gaynor Cup.

Caitlin Gavin

Favourite position: left wing.

Favourite pre-match song: Just Wanna Rock.

Player on team you would like to be for a day: Hazel Donegan, no explanation needed!

Biggest inspiration: Neymar.

Best sporting memory: Barcelona, 2023.

Aoife Walsh

Favourite position: centre-back.

Club: Athlone Town AFC.

Favourite pre-match song: Mr Brightside.

Toughest opponent: Freya Healy.

Player on team you would like to be for a day and why: Caoilfhinn so I could be the GOAT.

Biggest inspiration: my cousin, Leo.

Best sporting memory: Returning to sport after a year of ACL rehab.

Hazel Donegan (captain)

Favourite position: striker.

Club: Athlone Town AFC.

Favourite pre-match song: Hurricane (The Weeknd).

Toughest opponent: Alison Nugent.

Player on team you would like to be for a day and why: Alison because she’s techie!

Biggest inspiration: Aoife Walsh.

Best sporting memory: Being involved with the Athlone Town squad.

Aoife Holohan

Favourite position: centre-back.

Club: Hodson Bay Celtic FC.

Favourite pre-match song: One Dance (Drake).

Toughest opponent: Hazel Donegan.

Player on team you would like to be for a day and why: Ciara Walsh because she’s so talented.

Biggest inspiration: Rebecca Keenan.

Best sporting memory: All-Ireland Community Games final.

Lily Finneran

Favourite position: centre midfield.

Club: Skyvalley Rovers FC.

Favourite pre-match song: Murder on the Dancefloor.

Toughest opponent: Alison Nugent.

Player on team you would like to be for a day and why: Jane Byrne because she’s never tired after a match.

Biggest inspiration: Mr Niall Finneran.

Best sporting memory: Winning U14 county title.

Róisín Ní Chluaid

Favourite position: left/right wing.

Club: Temple Villa.

Favourite pre-match song: Waka Waka.

Toughest opponent: Ciara.

Player on team you would like to be for a day: Ella.

Biggest inspiration: Ms Menton.

Best sporting memory: Winning a county camogie final.

Alison Nugent

Favourite position: centre midfield.

Club: Athlone Town AFC.

Favourite pre-match song: any Weeknd song.

Toughest opponent: Hazel.

Player on team you would like to be for a day and why: Hazel because she scores goals.

Biggest inspiration: Aoife Walsh.

Best sporting memory: Playing in a Gaelic football All-Ireland final.

Aoife Minnock

Favourite position: right full-back.

Club: Cam Celtic FC.

Favourite pre-match song: Hall of Fame.

Toughest opponent: Alison Nugent.

Player on team you would like to be for a day and why: Hazel Donegan because she’s our top goal scorer.

Biggest inspiration: Rebecca Keenan

Best sporting memory: Winning U14 county championship with St Brigid’s.

Sally Ann Joyce

Favourite position: striker.

Favourite pre-match song: whatever’s on the speaker.

Player on team you would like to be for a day: Hazel.

Biggest inspiration: Ms Menton

Best sporting memory: Winning Gaelic football final with Garrycastle.

Mai Hennelly

Favourite position: centre-back.

Club: Hodson Bay Celtic FC.

Favourite pre-match song: Unwritten (Natasha Bedingfield).

Toughest opponent: Caoilfhinn Brett because she has mad skills.

Player on team you would like to be for a day and why: Ciara Walsh, because she’s so funny and so nice to the younger players.

Biggest inspiration: Katie McCabe,

Best sporting memory: Community Games All-Ireland final, 2021.

Jane Byrne

Favourite position: right full-back.

Favourite pre-match song: Murder on the Dancefloor.

Toughest opponent: Hazel Donegan.

Player on team you would like to be for a day and why: Lily Finneran because she’s always tired after a match.

Biggest inspiration: Ms Menton.

Best sporting memory: Winning an U14 county title.

PATH TO THE FINAL

Leinster Cup

Athlone CC 5 Sacred Heart, Tullamore 4.

Athlone CC 8 Coláiste Chiaráin, Leixlip 2.

Athlone CC 4 Tullamore College 3.

Athlone CC 6 St Vincent's, Dundalk 2.

Leinster final: Athlone CC 3 Loreto, Kilkenny 1.

National Cup semi-final

Athlone CC 3 Presentation SS, Thurles 1.

National Cup final fixture

FAI Schools Junior Girls National Cup final: Presentation College, Athenry vs Athlone Community College, Wednesday, March 13, Athlone Town AFC, kick-off 11am.