THIS MUST BE a first of some sort.
At just 13 years of age, Dublin teen sensation Jessie Stapleton has been called in to train with Colin Bell’s Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team (WNT) squad.
The Cherry Orchard FC star is no stranger to breaking barriers. At 11, the Ballyfermot native made history and became the first girl to play in the Dublin & District Schoolboys League.
At 12, Stapleton earned her first Ireland U15 cap and is now a full international at that level. And now, here she is with a call-up to the Irish senior team at next week’s training camp in Abbotstown.
The camp is for home-based senior internationals and will include some underage talents including Stapleton.
“Congratulations and a massive well done to Orchard’s Jessie Stapleton who has been called in to train with the senior ladies International squad at FAI head quarters in Abbotstown,” Cherry Orchard FC wrote in a press release.
“Jessie who plays for our 13 premier team, and has been with Cherry Orchard FC since she was eight years old, and she is already a U15 full Irish International, awarded to Jessie at only 13 years of age.
“A remarkable achievement from a player at such a young age. Jessie has a huge career ahead of her as she has a fantastic attitude and love for the game, and everyone at the Cherry Orchard FC are so proud of her.
“Huge congratulations to Jessie’s Orchard coach Brendan Wynne and his coaching team for guiding Jessie to this stage of her career.”
What a fantastic day for Orchards Jessie Stapleton. Not only did she score on her first full U15 International game for the Republic of Ireland against Northern Ireland today, winning 2-1, Jessie was awarded the player of the match. 👏🇮🇪🍒#Superbtalent #soproud pic.twitter.com/0h1WXAIlBO
— Cherry Orchard FC (@CherryOrchardFC) February 17, 2018
It must be noted however that this is just for training — the defender is unable to win a senior international cap until she turns 16.
An incredible story all the same.
Watch this space.
- This piece was originally published at 8.08am.
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