Offaly players make their mark with Ireland's international teams

Two Offaly players have received international call-ups in the past week, featuring in the Ireland senior and U19's teams respectively. 

Mucklagh native Ellen Dolan was recently added to the Ireland senior panel by interim manager Eileen Gleeson, and was on the bench against Hungary in Tallaght Stadium last week. 

The Irish team is due to play Northern Ireland on Tuesday night, offering the Peamount Utd player the possibility of her first senior cap. 

Aged 17, she is a student at Killina Presentation Secondary School. 

Having started out with Mucklagh FC, Dolan signed for Peamount Utd and recently won the 2023 SSE Airtricity Women's National League. 

She was also recently named the SSE Airtricity Player of the Month for October/November. 

Another player, Tullamore native Aoife Murphy-O'Connor was called into the Irish Women's U-19 squad for their 1-0 win over Northern Ireland at the Blanchflower Stadium in Belfast over the weekend. 

Now a player with Athlone Town, she transferred from Killeigh FC in recent seasons, and won an FAI Cup medal in recent weeks, having been a squad member with the senior team who beat Shelbourne on penalties. 

The 17-year-old is a student in Sacred Heart School in Tullamore. 

Other midlands players have also been making their mark with Isobel Ryan, who began her career with Birr Town, also in the Irish U19's squad. 

Mary Philips, who played with Portlaoise FC and now lines out for Athlone Town, also featured in the friendly in Belfast at the weekend.