Alex Kavanagh

Last updated

Alex Kavanagh
Personal information
Full name Alexandra Kavanagh [1]
Date of birth (1999-12-11) 11 December 1999 (age 23)
Place of birth Finglas, Dublin
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Shelbourne
Number 6
Youth career
Home Farm
2011–2015 Shelbourne
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2016– Shelbourne
International career‡
2016–2018 Republic of Ireland U19 17 (3)
2016– Republic of Ireland
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 01:17, 6 December 2020 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 01:17, 6 December 2020 (UTC)

Alexandra Kavanagh (born 11 December 1999) is an Irish association footballer who plays for Women's National League (WNL) club Shelbourne and the Republic of Ireland women's national team. She is a central midfielder with good technique, [2] who is also a capable goal scorer. [3]

Contents

Club career

Kavanagh is from Finglas, Dublin and began playing soccer for Shelbourne's girls' teams in 2011 when she was 11 years old. [4] She also played up to under-14 level with Home Farm, as the only girl in the team. [5]

In January 2016 Kavanagh was elevated into Shelbourne's Women's National League squad, scoring on her debut on 20 February 2016; a 12–1 win over a Castlebar Celtic team in rapid decline. [4] [note 1] In the remainder of the 2015–16 season Kavanagh featured as Shelbourne were edged out by Wexford Youths in both the WNL Shield final and a play-off for the League title. [6] [7]

In the 2016 season, Kavanagh started the 5–0 FAI Women's Cup final win over Wexford Youths [8] as Shelbourne secured a League and Cup "double". [9] She displayed good form in the 2019 Women's National League, being named WNL Player of the Month for March 2019, [10] and named in the WNL Team of the Season. [11]

In the delayed and truncated 2020 Women's National League season Kavanagh missed some time out through injury. When she scored the WNL's first ever televised goal, in Shelbourne's 1–0 win over DLR Waves at Tolka Park on 2 October 2021, it was her first 90-minute appearance for a year. [12]

After further injuries disrupted her progress, Kavanagh recaptured her best form in the later stages of the 2022 campaign, winning WNL Player of the Month for October 2022. [13] In the 2022 FAI Women's Cup Final, she served an assist for the first goal as Shelbourne beat Athlone Town 2–0 to secure a League and Cup "double". [14]

International career

Youth

In November 2012 Kavanagh became the youngest ever person to play football for Ireland, when she played for the under-15 schoolgirl team in two matches at St George's Park National Football Centre in Burton upon Trent, England. At 12 years old she broke the record previously held by Conor Clifford. [5] She continued to play for Ireland's under-15s during 2013–14, while attending St. Michael's Secondary School in Finglas. [15]

With the Republic of Ireland women's national under-17 football team, Kavanagh competed at the 2016 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship qualification mini tournament in Turkey, [16] then the elite round in France. [17] She was promoted to the Republic of Ireland women's national under-19 football team for a match against Belgium in September 2016, and scored a penalty kick in Ireland's 2–1 defeat. [18]

With the under-19s Kavanagh competed in the 2017 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship qualification series in North Macedonia and in the elite round at Markets Field, Limerick. [19] By the time of the following year's elite round at Turners Cross, Cork, Kavanagh remained part of the team. [20] She concluded her under-19 national team career with three goals in 17 appearances. [21]

Senior

In August 2016 Ireland coach Susan Ronan named Kavanagh in a young and predominantly home-based senior squad for a training camp in Wales. [22] [23] She won her first senior cap in the second of two scheduled friendly matches against the Welsh hosts, as an 83rd-minute substitute for Jetta Berrill in Ireland's 2–1 win. [24] [25]

Kavanagh made another substitute appearance in a 2–1 home friendly win over the Basque Country on 25 November 2016, coming in for Áine O'Gorman after 85 minutes. [26] She continued to be selected by Ronan's successor Colin Bell, being called up for two friendlies against Iceland and Scotland ahead of the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying series. [27] In August 2019 Kavanagh was an unused substitute in a 3–0 friendly defeat by the United States at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. [28]

Personal life

Kavanagh's older brother Cian is also a soccer player. [4] An attacking midfielder like his sister, Cian Kavanagh developed at St. Kevin's Boys and has played in the League of Ireland for Shamrock Rovers, Shelbourne, UCD, Drogheda United and Wexford. [29]

Alex and Cian's father George Kavanagh played League of Ireland football for St. Pats, Bray Wanderers and Thurles Town. [5]

Notes

  1. ↑ Castlebar Celtic later withdrew from the WNL and their 2015–16 results were expunged from the records.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peamount United F.C.</span> Football club

Peamount United Football Club is an Irish association football club based in Newcastle, South Dublin. The club is best known for its senior women's team who in 2011–12 became founder members and inaugural champions of the Women's National League. They have also represented the Republic of Ireland in Europe and in 2011–12 they became the first Republic of Ireland team, including men's teams, to qualify from their group for the knockout stages of a European competition. The club's senior men's team compete in the Leinster Senior League. Peamount United have also fielded teams in the Dublin Women's Soccer League, the Dublin and District Schoolboys League and the Metropolitan Girls League.

The League of Ireland Women's Premier Division is a professional women's association football league in the Republic of Ireland, organised by the League of Ireland, which began play in the 2023 season. The league consists of eleven teams, eight of which owned by clubs with men's teams in the League of Ireland's Premier Division or First Division. The premiers of the league qualify for the first round of the UEFA Women's Champions League in the following season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castlebar Celtic W.F.C.</span> Football club

Castlebar Celtic W.F.C. is an Irish association football club based in Castlebar, County Mayo. The club is the women's section of Castlebar Celtic and has entered teams in the Women's National League, the Mayo Women's Football League and the FAI Women's Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shelbourne F.C. (women)</span> Irish association football club

Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish association football club based in Northside, Dublin. It is the women's section of the League of Ireland club Shelbourne FC. The senior women's team currently plays in the Women's National League. They have also fielded teams in the Dublin Women's Soccer League, the Metropolitan Girls League and the North Dublin Schoolboys/Girls League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wexford Youths W.F.C.</span> Football club

Wexford Youths Women Football Club is an Irish association football club based in Crossabeg, County Wexford. Their senior team plays in the Women's National League. In recent seasons Wexford Youths have emerged as one of the league's strongest teams.

The 2015–16 Women's National League was the fifth season of the Women's National League. Two new clubs joined the league before the start of the season, restoring the number of teams in the league to eight. Kilkenny United were formed as expansion team while Raheny United's senior women's team merged with Shelbourne Ladies. This effectively saw Shelbourne Ladies takeover Raheny United's place in the WNL. The season also saw the introduction of the WNL Shield. Wexford Youths and Shelbourne Ladies finished the season as the league's two strongest teams. In the league itself, the two teams finished level on points before Wexford Youths retained the title after a play-off. Wexford Youths also completed a treble, having already won both the FAI Women's Cup and WNL Shield. Shelbourne Ladies were also runners up in the WNL Shield before going onto win the WNL Cup. Before the season was finished Castlebar Celtic withdrew because they were unable to field a team.

Siobhán Killeen is a Republic of Ireland women's international footballer. She has also played for UCD, Raheny United and Shelbourne Ladies. In 2010, she was a member of the Republic of Ireland U-17 squad that were runners-up in the 2010 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship and quarter-finalists in the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. Killeen has also played senior ladies' Gaelic football for Dublin.

Noelle Murray is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Irish club Shelbourne and the Republic of Ireland national team. Between 2011 and 2016 Murray played in six successive FAI Women's Cup finals with three clubs - St Catherine's, Raheny United and Shelbourne Ladies.

The 2019 Women's National League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Só Hotels Women's National League, was the ninth season of the Women's National League, the highest women's association football league in the Republic of Ireland. It began on 9 March 2019 and concluded on 10 November 2019. Wexford Youths were the defending champions, but Peamount United won to secure their first League title since the inaugural 2011–12 season.

Jessica Maria Ziu is an Irish footballer who plays as a midfielder for West Ham United and has appeared for the Republic of Ireland women's national team.

Ciara Rossiter is an Irish footballer who plays as a defender for Women's National League club Wexford Youths Women FC. She has been a member of the Republic of Ireland women's national team. She is a left-sided full-back who can also play in midfield.

Rachel Graham is an Irish footballer and football coach who plays for Women's National League club Shelbourne. She won her first cap for the Republic of Ireland women's national team in March 2013. An industrious defensive midfielder who can also play as a defender, she joined Shelbourne in their previous guise as Raheny United.

Ellen Molloy is an Irish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Wexford Youths of the Women's National League (WNL) and the Republic of Ireland women's national team.

Emma Hansberry is an Irish footballer and coach who plays for Women's National League (WNL) club Sligo Rovers. She previously represented Castlebar Celtic and Wexford Youths. An attacking midfielder, she has also represented the Republic of Ireland women's national team. In Gaelic football Hansberry played for the St Mary's club and her county, Sligo GAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saoirse Noonan</span> Irish footballer

Saoirse Noonan is an Irish dual code footballer from Cork. In association football she plays for Durham of the English FA Women's Championship. She represents the Republic of Ireland at senior level, having also represented Ireland at youth level. From 2018 until 2020 she also played ladies' Gaelic football at senior level for the Cork county ladies' football team, competing in the Ladies' National Football League and All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship.

The 2020 FAI Women's Cup is the 45th edition of the Republic of Ireland's primary national cup competition for women's association football teams. This edition features clubs exclusively from the Women's National League (WNL), whereas usually non-league teams are involved. The number of teams was reduced due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The restrictions also meant that crowds were restricted or prohibited from attending. The competition began on 19 September 2020 with a preliminary round and concluded on 12 December 2020. The final was moved to the Tallaght Stadium from the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which had hosted the previous seven finals.

Dearbháile Beirne is an Irish dual code footballer from Mohill in County Leitrim. In soccer she plays for Peamount United of the Women's National League (WNL) and has represented the Republic of Ireland women's national football team at youth and senior level. She has also played Ladies' Gaelic football for Leitrim GAA, competing in the Ladies' National Football League and All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies' Football Championship.

The 2021 Women's National League, known as the SSE Airtricity WNL for sponsorship reasons, is the 11th season of the Women's National League, the highest women's association football league in the Republic of Ireland since its establishment in 2011. Peamount United were the defending champions, having won their third league title the previous season.

Kylie Murphy is an Irish footballer who plays for Wexford Youths of the Women's National League (WNL). Predominantly a midfielder, she was successfully repurposed as a forward in 2021.

The 2022 Women's National League known as the SSE Airtricity WNL for sponsorship reasons, was the 12th season of the Women's National League, the highest women's association football league in the Republic of Ireland since its establishment in 2011. Expansion team Sligo Rovers competed for the first time, bringing the league up to ten clubs. Shelbourne, as defending champions from the previous season, won the 2022 league by defeating Wexford Youths on the final day of the season.

References

  1. ↑ "Ireland WU16 end campaign with Danish loss". Football Association of Ireland. 17 June 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  2. ↑ "On The Radar | Players Eyeing International Call-Ups". Women's National League (Ireland). 7 July 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  3. ↑ Doyle, Stephen (25 April 2019). "Shelbourne goal machine Alex Kavanagh named Player of the Month". Newstalk . Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 "Sport: Shelbourne's super siblings". Dublin People. 28 February 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 O'Regan (19 November 2012). "Alex (12) enters record books as youngest ever to play for Ireland". Irish Independent . Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  6. ↑ "Wexford edge Shels in WNL Shield Final". wnl.fai.ie. 30 March 2016. Archived from the original on 18 July 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  7. ↑ "WNL Play-Off Report: Shelbourne Ladies 1–2 Wexford Youths Women". www.extratime.ie. 22 May 2016.
  8. ↑ "Five-star Shelbourne turn on the style to win FAI Women's Cup". The Irish Independent. 6 November 2016.
  9. ↑ "Shelbourne Ladies wrap up league title". RTÉ Sport. 30 November 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  10. ↑ "Shelbourne star Alex Kavanagh scoops player of the month award". RTÉ Sport. 25 April 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  11. ↑ "2019 Women's National League Team of the Season". Women's National League (Ireland). 13 November 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  12. ↑ Donnelly, Dave (2 October 2021). "Shelbourne's Alex Kavanagh makes history as spectacular strike settles first-ever live WNL broadcast with DLR Waves win". Dublin Live. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  13. ↑ Duffy, Emma (10 November 2022). "Shelbourne double winner caps stunning season with Player of the Month award". The42.ie. TheJournal.ie . Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  14. ↑ Pyne, Anthony (6 November 2022). "Shels break Athlone hearts to complete the double". RTÉ Sport . Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  15. ↑ "#2 Alex Kavanagh". FAI Schools. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  16. ↑ "Kavanagh believes in UEFA European Championship Finals dream". Extratime.com. 21 October 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  17. ↑ "Ireland U-17s Fight Back To Beat Hungary". She Kicks. 20 March 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  18. ↑ "Report: Kavanagh on target for WU19s". Football Association of Ireland. 20 September 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  19. ↑ "Ireland women's under-19 side too good for Ukraine in Limerick". Irish Independent. 6 April 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  20. ↑ "Ireland U-19s have to settle for a draw with Austria". RTÉ Sport. 2 April 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  21. ↑ "Alex Kavanagh". SoccerScene.ie. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  22. ↑ Blake, Ben (17 August 2016). "Youth given a chance to impress as 9 new faces named in Ireland senior women's squad". The42.ie. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  23. ↑ "Sue Ronan names Wales training camp squad". Football Association of Ireland. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  24. ↑ "Young Ireland hold Wales in stalemate". Football Association of Ireland. 20 August 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  25. ↑ "Video: Late McCabe double secures victory over Wales". Football Association of Ireland. 21 August 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  26. ↑ "Report: Ronan ends six-year tenure with win". Football Association of Ireland. 26 November 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  27. ↑ O'Neill, Jen (22 May 2017). "Bell Names Ireland Squad For Iceland Friendly". She Kicks . Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  28. ↑ "USA Rolls Past Ireland 3-0 In Front Of 37,040 Fans At The Rose Bowl To Win First Match Of 2019 Victory Tour Presented By Allstate". United States Soccer Federation. 3 August 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  29. ↑ "Cian Kavanagh signs for Wexford FC". Wexford F.C. 12 December 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.