Leinster were crowned 2026 FAI Schools Under 15 Girls’ Interprovincial Champions for a fourth consecutive season following a tense finale to the tournament in Athlone Town Stadium.

Keith Coffey’s team secured the title with two wins and a draw to claim top spot and continue their rich vein of form at this level of competition.
 
It was a brilliant team effort from Leinster over the three days to clinch the crown following a close call against the other title contenders Connacht with Munster close on their heels.
 
The opening match on Monday afternoon, saw Leinster finish narrow 1-0 winners over Munster in an excellent display of football. They followed this up with a 2-0 victory over Ulster on Tuesday and they had to work extremely hard to contain the Connacht threat this afternoon and snatch the point they required with an enjoyable scoreless draw.
 
The sixty-eight players created moments of technical brilliance, speed, determination, and a touch of magic on occasion to keep the supporters on the edge of their seats for the series. It wasn’t just provincial honours on the line.
 
The tournament is a trialling process for the International Schools team who participate in the Bob Docherty Cup annually.
 
The teams can be extremely proud of their performances this week, with the final day of action, deciding the winners.
 

MATCH DAY 1
Leinster 1-0 Munster | Robin Denehan 24
Connacht 3-0 Ulster | Ruby Meaney 20, 51, Ava Hogan 46
 
GAME 1
A solitary goal courtesy of St. Mary’s College, Naas scholar Robin Denehan six minutes from the break was enough for Leinster to take all two points on offer this afternoon.

Munster could have gone two down midway through the second period only for the heroics of netminder Emma O’Neill (Ballincollig CS) to deny the talented Amy Nnabugwa (Piper’s Hill College, Naas). The shot-stopper needed a solid hand to palm the ball past the far post to keep her side in contention.

Munster should have drawn level eight minutes from time but Rosaleen O’Leary’s (St. Mary’s SS, Nenagh) effort from the penalty spot sailed over the crossbar.

Leinster were resilient and held on for a valuable win against a tenacious Munster side. 
 
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Leinster goalscorer Robin Denehan and Munster keeper Emma O’Neill were excellent throughout the sixty minutes but Scoil Mhuire Greenhill, Carrick on Suir student Abbie Norris was a worthy recipient of the accolade following her very influential impact on the park for Libby Costelloe’s crew.
 
GAME 2
A brace from Coláiste na Coiribe pupil Ruby Meaney and a strike from Ava Hogan wrapped up a victory for Dom Coll’s charges in the second outing of the evening.

Carrick on Shannon CS star Ornaith Guckian set Meaney up for her first after twenty minutes on the clock as the Connacht side enjoyed a slender lead at the interval.

Hogan was on hand to slot home Connacht’s second midway through the second half while Meaney converted her second and Connacht’s third nine minutes from time.
 
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
With her impressive antics in front of goal, it was no surprise that Ruby Meaney was selected as the POTM as the Coláiste na Coiribe grad struck at vital times in the game to keep the pressure on her opponents. 
 

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MATCH DAY 2
Munster 2-1 Connacht | Rosedeirdre Pioa 7, Rose O’Shaughnessy 42, Ava Hogan 14
Leinster 2-0 Ulster | Zara Foley 53, Sienna Jones 55
 
GAME 3
St. Mary’s SS, Newport starlet Rosedeirdre Pipa opened her account with just seven minutes on the clock to give Munster the early lead.

However, local lass Ava Hogan (Coláiste Chiaráín, Athlone) equalised for Connacht seven minutes later with a sensational individual effort. Her pacy run from midfield, saw the player unleash a strike to rifle the top corner.

Laura McHugh, Coláiste Bhaile Chláír kept Connacht in the game when she stopped a brilliant effort from Rosaleen O’Leary with ten minutes of the first half remaining. It was 1-1 at the break.

Munster got themselves back in front 12 minutes after the restart courtesy of a beauty from Rose O’Shaughnessy (St. Aloysius College, Carrigtwohill) to make it 2-1.

Indeed, O’Shaughnessy could have doubled her tally seven minutes from time, but her effort was dragged wide of the far post. Munster just edging a closely fought contest.
 
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
The Munster maestro Rosaleen O’Leary was voted Player of the Match following her excellent exploits in the white jersey, coming up thrumps with a lovely winner.
 
GAME 4
Ulster impressed for long periods of the game and defended well against the reigning Champions. Leinster finished strongly with a late flurry of goals.

Zara Foley (Coláiste Íosagain, Portarlington) broke the deadlock seven minutes from time with a magnificent set piece from distance.

Leinster doubled their tally two minutes later when Sienna JONES converted smartly to see them finish 2-0 winners.
 
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
De La Salle College, Churchtown student Sienna JONES was awarded the silverware for her hardworking endeavours for Leinster, topping off a fine performance with a splendid goal.
 

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MATCH DAY 3
Ulster 1-3 Munster | M Gallagher 2, O’Leary 9, O’Donovan 21, O’Shaughnessy 27
Connacht 0-0 Leinster                     
 
GAME 5
Munster came from a goal down to win out 3-1 in the end to finish their campaign with a second consecutive victory over a hardworking Ulster side.

Disappointing for Ulster when they made such a positive impact early on with Molly Gallagher netting a wonder goal inside 90 seconds.

Munster equalised seven minutes later through set piece specialist Rosaleen O’Leary who smashed home from 25 yards out.

Emily Donovan (Gaelcholáiste Choilm, Ballincollig) extended the Munster lead with a beautiful strike to the top bin from the edge of the box with 21 minutes on the clock.

Munster’s third came six minutes later when Rose O’Shaughnessy tapped home from a Sofia Rice corner. Munster led 3-1 at the break.

The second half didn’t produce any further goals as the players cancelled each other out in the latter stages of the contest.

Another fabulous win for Libby Costelloe’s side but they needed a further goal to impact the competition if Connacht were to grab a narrow win against Leinster in the other outing that afternoon.
 
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Molly Gallagher, St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar scored one of a best goals of the tournament to ensure her accolade as Player of the Match.
 
GAME 6
The last fixture of the six-game series was a cagey affair with neither side creating any clear cut chances in an interesting first half.  Some solid defensive work from both sides, as it remained scoreless at the break.

Leinster’s Amelia Smiakel and Zara Foley attempted to get the better of Laura McHugh in the Connacht goal but the Coláiste Bhaile Chláír netminder was in fine form to deny the duo in quick succession midway through the second half.

Connacht’s Ruby Meaney had a great opportunity to convert twenty minutes from time, but her strike went just wide of the target. Both sides had a chance to win it late on, but brave keepers McHugh and McGuinness were equal to the challenge and kept their clean sheets.

Leinster just needed the draw to secure the silverware and did enough to continue their unbelievable record in this competition.
 
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
For your tireless work rate throughout the game, Lexi Murphy, Balla Secondary School was awarded the special merit.
 
 

POINTS | Leinster 5, Munster 4, Connacht 3, Ulster 0
 

INTERPROVINCIAL PANELS
CONNACHT | Laura McHugh, Charlottle McHugh, Elisa Day (Coláiste Bhaile Chláir), Grace Halvey (Glenamaddy Community School), Ruby Meaney, Hannah McHugh (Coláiste na Coiribe, Knocknacarra), Ava McLaughlin (Salerno Jesus & Mary Secondary School, Salthill), Lexi Murphy (Balla Secondary School), Mia Lawless, Róisín Sammon, Roisin Hannon (Presentation College, Athenry), Ava Hogan (Coláiste Chiaráín, Athlone), Erin McCartan (Coláiste Iognáid, Galway), Kate Howard (Coláiste Muire, Ballymote), Ornaith Guckian (Carrick on Shannon Community School), Annalise Higgins (Sligo Grammar School), Mia Killeen (Ballinrobe Community School)
MANAGEMENT | Dom Coll (Retired, Presentation College, Athenry), Stephen Lacken (St. Patrick’s College, Lacken Cross), Seamus MacEachmharcaigh (Sacred Heart School, Westport), Lucy Smith (Presentation College, Athenry)
 
LEINSTER | Lauren McGuinness, Emma Craig (Scoil Dara, Kilcock), Zara Foley (Coláiste Íosagáin, Portarlington), Nikki Mullally (Coláiste Mhuire, Johnstown, Kilkenny), Cora Jean Morris (Cabinteely Community School), Ellie Mae Hoban (Confey College, Leixlip), Dara Katsko (Loreto High School Beaufort, Rathfarnham), Sienna Jones (De La Salle College, Churchtown), Aimee Greene (Moate Community School), Robin Denehan (St. Mary’s College, Naas), Sadhbh Harris (Lucan Community College), Amy Nnabugwu (Piper’s Hill College, Naas), Amelia Smialek (Blackrock Educate Together Secondary School), Rachel Holland (Alexandra College, Dublin), Aliyah Belo (Coláiste Pobail Fóla, Saggart), Hannah Barry (Coláiste na Mí, Johnstown, Meath), Lilly McGovern (Holy Family Community School, Rathcoole)
MANAGEMENT | Keith Coffey (Confey College, Leixlip), Ryan Doherty (Palmerstown Community School), Niamh Tyrell, Jaime Thompson (SETU Carlow students)
 
MUNSTER |  Emma Sarah O’Neill (Ballincollig Community School), Molly Dooling (Blackwater Community School, Lismore), Emily Donovan, Aoibhinn Fitzgerald (Gaelcholáiste Choilm, Ballincollig), Chloe Hannon (Mungret Community College, Limerick), Chloe Kingston, Rosaleen O’Leary (St. Mary’s Secondary School, Nenagh), Éabha McGuinness (Castletroy College, Limerick), Anna Meaney (Limerick Educate Together Secondary School), Cece Moloney (Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles), Penny Murphy, Sofia Rice (St. Mary’s High School, Midleton), Abbie Norris, Ruby Prenderville (Scoil Mhuire Greenhill, Carrick on Suir), Rose O’Shaughnessy (St. Aloysius College, Carrigtwohill), Rose Deirdre Pipa (St. Mary’s Secondary School, Newport), Alex Flynn (Coláiste Muire, Ennis),
MANAGEMENT | Libby Costelloe (Mary Immaculate College), Rebecca Shinnors (UL), Bridget McGrath, (St. Brigid’s NS, Limerick) Maire O’Leary (Hazelwood College, Dromcollogher), Michael Fleming (St. Brigid’s Presentation Secondary School, Killarney), Richard Grimes (Retired | St. Caimin’s Community School, Shannon)
 
ULSTER | Caitlin McBrearty (Deele College, Raphoe), Rose Harkin (Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair), Aoife McArdle (Beech Hill College, Monaghan), Zoey Clarke, Rebecca Crosby (Coláiste Dún an Rí, Kingscourt), Lucy Doohan (PCC, Falcarragh), Islagh Patton, Molly Gallagher, Katie Gallagher, Alison Mbuli, Saoirse Hannigan (St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar), Alice Gibbons (Loreto Community School, Milford), Orla Maguire (Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town), Niamh Carolan (Virgina College), Grace McGonagle, Caitlin Atherton (Moville Community College), Éabha McKinney (Coláiste Ailigh, Leitir Ceanainn)
MANAGEMENT | Kaneshia McKinney (Loreto Secondary School, Letterkenny), Zoe Green (Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town), Natalie McFadden (Deele College, Raphoe)
 

2026 FAI Schools Under 15 Girls’ Interprovincial Tournament
Monday, October 26th | Leinster 1-0 Munster       
Monday, October 26th | Connacht 3-0 Ulster
Tuesday, October 27th | Munster 2-1 Connacht
Tuesday, October 27th | Leinster 2-0 Ulster
Wednesday, October 28th | Ulster 1-3 Munster
Wednesday, October 28th | Connacht 0-0 Leinster