ROMA MCLAUGHLIN AND the Republic of Ireland Women’s Under-19s have booked their place for the Elite Round of qualifying for the UEFA European Championships.
Greencastle woman McLaughlin, who plays her club football with Peamount United, started for Dave Connell’s team in a 2-0 win over Wales this afternoon.
[adrotate group=”80″]A brace of goals by Shelbourne’s Leanne Kiernan, on 25 and 46 minutes, secured the 2-0 win that comes on the back of a 10-0 win over Macedonia.
McLaughlin didn’t play against Macedonia, but the 2015/16 Women’s National League Young Player of the Year was back in the engine room today.
Indeed, the FAI’s report on the game said McLaughlin was ‘controlling the tempo as if she were a master puppeteer’.
[adrotate group=”85″]“I’m delighted for the players because they have deserved the two victories. Now we want to finish what we came here to do and top the group,” said head coach Connell.
“It’s important that we keep the continuity going and the belief that we can beat the bigger teams. Italy are next and they will be another challenge for us, but there is no reason why we cannot overcome them too.
[adrotate group=”76”]“To qualify for the Elite Round is important for the development of our players because they get to play against best teams. We started this campaign with a task of winning six games; we are two down now with two wins so we are going well.
“Our belief, when setting out at the start, was that this group of players is good enough to reach the finals in Northern Ireland. We now have to keep working hard to achieve that but the girls have done brilliantly.”
Qualifieddd☘️☘️
— Roma Mc Laughlin (@RomaMcLaughlin) October 20, 2016
