Offaly player helps Ireland to qualify for UEFA European Championships

Former Mucklagh FC star Ellen Dolan, who now plays for Peamount Utd, has helped Ireland qualify for a major tournament. 

The Ireland Women's Under 19s qualified for the UEFA Women's Under-19 European Championships for the first time since 2014, earlier on Saturday.

After beating Iceland 4-1 in their opening Group A2 game, the Girls in Green overcame Austria 1-0 on Saturday to qualify for the finals tournament in Lithuania.

A second-half goal from Shamrock Rovers forward Joy Ralph proved to be the difference in a game where both teams had a player sent off - Freya Healy picking up two yellow cards late on.

This is the second time that head coach Dave Connell has led a WU19 squad to a EUROs and they fully deserve their spot which is clinched due to a better head-to-head record even though they have one game remaining against Croatia.

Ireland dominated this game in many ways and showed their quality when it mattered most. Ralph's goal on 50 minutes was a just reward for their positive approach.

Ellen Dolan played for several years with Mucklagh FC before signing for the reigning Women's National League champions, Peamount Utd. She played a significant part in last season's league success, having starred for Mucklagh and the Midlands ETP side in her earlier years, before making the move to the Dublin side. 
 
Ireland: Katie Keane; Meabh Russell, Kate Thompson, Aoife Kelly, Eve Dossen, Jodie Loughrey; Sophie Morrin (Freya Healy 71), Jess Fitzgerald; Ellen Dolan, Joy Ralph (Rola Olusola 83), Lia O’Leary (Hannah Healy 69).