Where are they now ??

Wexford Youth Women First Squad: Where are they now ?

By Peter Doyle

Even though the Bus Eireann Womens National League is only in its third season, the turnover of players has been quite high and in this article we take a look at the squad which competed in season one

Charlotte McCormack: The young goalkeeper had a great first season with the club and was very crucial in getting the team to their fourth place finish. Charlotte was arguably the best keeper in the country never to get a cap with the Republic of Ireland underage squads despite going very close on several occasions. She won several honours with Curracloe United at schoolgirl level before signing for Wexford Youths and after that first season she moved to the USA where she studies in Clayton State University on scholarship and is playing in goal for the university's Lakers team

Celine Slye: This experienced player had already enjoyed a very successful career in the Wexford Womens League as she won several cups and league titles with Bunclody AFC before Wexford Youths were formed. She put in a very committed first season, proving to be one of the squads more dedicated squad members but at the end of the season she returned to Bunclody AFC where she is currently enjoying a successful reboot to her career after having a baby

Clare "Bosco" Conlon: Bosco is still with the team and probably possesses one of the best left foot strikes in the league. One of several players who signed from Benfica in that first season, she quickly established herself at leftback and became almost an ever present in the starting eleven. She has picked up a few injuries in her national league career but generally has shown herself to be a tough uncompromising defender and a very competitive player

Ciara O Brien: Even at the young age of 19 when she signed for Wexford, Ciara had already played in an Under 17 Euro final and was one of the squad that reached the quarter finals of the Under 17 World Cup. An ex Tramore player, she had also won several honours in the Wexford league at both adult and schoolgirl level before signing for the Youths. She was another player who moved to the US to further her education and moved to Missouri where she signed for Drury Panthers

Jessica Gleeson: Another player who had enjoyed a very successful underage international career and a member of the squad that qualified for the quarter finals of the Under 17 World Cup. She is still a member of the Youth squad and only for an occasional injury, has played in almost every game since signing. She won several underage and adult medals with Tramore and last summer travelled to Russia with the Irish Colleges team to the World University games and last Summer was called into the Republic of Ireland senior squad for the Cyprus Cup

Laura Heffernan: Laura was one of the first players from Wexford to play in the Gaynor Cup when she played for Leinster in 2002 and ever since she has been to the forefront of any league representative squad. She has played with Wexford Celtic, North End United and Curracloe United in the league and is one of the most hard working players within the county. Her first two seasons with Wexford Youths saw her only make appearances as a sub but this season she has played regularly at centre back. She also manages Wexford Youths Under 10 and Under 12 teams and looks to be heading towards a successful career in coaching

Linda Douglas: Another of the Benfica players who signed for Wexford that first season and was the only player in the league to play every minute of every game  in that first campaign and has only missed a minimal number of games since. A speedy right winger who has scored some vital goals and set up many more and if she continues to remain injury free, she could have a long career in the league

Edel Kennedy: Signed from Shilelagh United, Edel is the fairytale story of the club, and possibly the league, as she made the meteoric rise from division two soccer in the Wexford league to compete at the highest level in the country. A very strong hard working midfielder, she leads by example and works tirelessly in every game and has now turned her hand to scoring vital goals and is one of the leading scorers in the league as we publish this article.

Rianna Jarrett: Arguably the most well known player in womens soccer in Wexford, Rianna is another of the squad who participated in the Euro Under 17 final and reached the World Cup quarter finals. She had an injury hit first season but came into her own in the second season and was scoring goals at will until a cruciate ligament injury while playing against Italy brought her to a sudden stop, an injury that still keeps her sidelined until early 2014. A former North End and Curracloe United player, she has enjoyed massive success in the Wexford league at both underage and adult level and her return to the Youths squad is eagerly awaited

Kylie Murphy: The captain of the side, Kylie made a return to the game after a four year absence to sign for Wexford Youths. A former Republic of Ireland Under 17 international she started her career with Braun before moving to Parkville United, both Carlow sides having played in the Wexford league. She has shown herself to be an inspirational and popular captain and was unfortunate to pick up an injury in the opening match of this season but is now back in the team and leading by example

Rachel Hutchinson: Another of the Waterford players who joined from Benfica, Rachel is still with the club and while she cannot pin down a starting spot, she makes several appearances as a sub and is always capable of making an impact. Had to work hard this season to shake off a niggly injury but has worked her way back into the match day squad and recently scored a great goal against Castlebar Celtic

Tara Moloney: A player with a long pedigree in Wexford soccer, she signed for the club in the first season but left after a couple of months to return to Curracloe United where she had played all her career and also to concentrate on her county GAA career. A player who had enjoyed great success at league level, beginning her career with Curracloe in goal and winner of several medals in cup and league. Is currently not playing soccer with any club

Brianne O Connor: Another of the ex Benfica players who only played a minimal number of games before giving up to concentrate on her studies. A prolific goalscorer who is now back playing with Benfica and once again scoring goals

Lisa Dower: Another player who left after a few months to pursue her college career and returned to play for Benfica. She is now a qualified coach and works with Waterford Under Sixteen development squad

Nikki Dunphy: A history making player as she was the first to be sent off in the league for a professional foul in the second game of the first season away to Peamount United. She also made enough of an impression to be named in the first league team of the season and early into the second season she took time out to have a baby and when she returned, she decided to leave and return to Adamstown where she is currently making a great impression

Tracey Nolan: The ex St Cormacs player was plaqued by injury and found it difficult to break into the team and decided at the Christmas transfer window to leave to concentrate on club soccer and her county camogie career. Her experience made a massive difference when she signed for North End and is currently a member of their premier side. Tracey played her earlier soccer with her local team Bunclody AFC

Amy Devereux: Being the second goalkeeper was always going to be tough but Amy stuck to the task well for the first season and made a couple of appearances for the first team. She did not return for the second season and signed for newly formed DLR Waves where she also made a couple of appearances and the ex Arklow player now plays for top Dublin side St Catherines

Sadie Murphy: One of the top players in the Wexford league, Sadie enjoyed a season and a half in the National League before emigrating to Australia. The ex Fethard Rangers / Duncannon / Seaview player scored the winning goal when Wexford shocked Peamount in the opening season and also left the league with a bang when she scored a goal and also got sent off in her final league game at home to Shamrock Rovers

Fiona Bennett: Fiona will go down in the history books for scoring the first goal for Wexford in their opening day 2-2 draw with Castlebar Celtic. However, a sports related illness made life difficult for her at this level and she eventually had to withdraw from the squad mid way through that first season. She played her underage soccer with Fastnet Rovers and then Curracloe United and now plays with North End United womens team

Aleisha Cullen: The ex Curracloe schoolgirl played the first two seasons with the National League club but injury prevented her from ensuring a starting place on the team and she was reduced to runs as a sub. This season she moved to North End United where she is enjoying a good season and showing the form that brought her to the attention of Wexford Youths in the first place

Keeley Claydon: The very experienced Kelley Claydon signed to Wexford from Benfica where she had enjoyed a successful previous few seasons. Before that she had played with various versions of the New Ross teams as well as an earlier stint with Campile United. She is currently coaching some of the underage boys teams in her original club New Ross Celtic

Trish Cleary: The ex Ferrybank player showed herself to be a very tough uncompromising defender who played the first half of the first season before leaving the club for work reasons. In her time with the club she proved herself to be very committed and helped tighten up the defence in the early games

Beserta Ajeti: Another ex Benfica player, Beserta showed great promise when signing for the club but injury kept her out of the starting line up. A serious ankle injury effectively put paid to her chances and she made just a handful of appearances in her time as a signed player. However Beserta works very hard behind the scenes in the club and is usually found on match days recording the matches from the gantry overlooking the pitch in Ferrycarrig Park

Vanessa Austin: The Tipperary girl signed at the start of the season but made no appearances as travel commitments made it difficult to train and eventually left the club after a few months

Maria Delahunty: The ex Benfica player signed shortly into the first season and has proved herself to be a very important player in the team and is renowned in the league for her inswinging corners and free kicks and is a midfielder capable of scoring from anywhere on the pitch

Cherlle Khassal: Cherelle signed to the club at Christmas in season one and immediately made an impact, picking up a National League player of the month award and was nominated for young player of the year. She arrived in Wexford from US College soccer but had previously played for Benfica in the Wexford league and now is enjoying a career with Brighton and Hove Albion in the second tier of the English league. She was also capped twice for the Republic of Ireland senior team when signed as a player with the Youths Women

Katie White: This young Adamstown player was one of the hottest prospects within the Wexford schoolgirls league and had a promising career ahead of her when signing for Wexford Youths that first season. However a knee injury kept her out of the squad and after persevering she returned to Adamstown at the beginning of this season

Copyright of BricBrac Publications 7th December 2013