Ellen Molloy

Last updated

Ellen Molloy
Personal information
Date of birth (2004-06-05) 5 June 2004 (age 19)
Place of birth Kilkenny, Ireland [1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Wexford Youths
Number 10
Youth career
Thomastown United
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2019– Wexford Youths (29)
International career‡
2020– Republic of Ireland 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 September 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 6 September 2022

Ellen Molloy (born 5 June 2004) 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.

Contents

Club career

In a decorated career in youth soccer, Molloy enjoyed success with Thomastown United and Presentation Secondary School, Kilkenny. [2] [3] She was already seen as an exceptional prospect when she transferred to reigning WNL champions Wexford Youths in July 2019. [4]

Molloy debuted for Wexford Youths on the first day of the delayed 2020 Women's National League season, scoring two goals and serving one assist in a 4–1 home win over Bohemians. [5] She won the WNL Player of the Month award for August 2020 and was praised by Wexford Youths coach Tom Elmes: "She has hit the ground running. She is versatile and can play in a number of different roles and she's done really well for us." [6]

In September 2020 Molloy scored twice as Wexford inflicted a first defeat of the season on champions Peamount United. [7] She scored another two goals, including a "goal of the season contender" against Galway on 31 October 2020. [8] At the WNL Awards in December 2020, Molloy was named Young Player of the Season and named in the Team of the Season. [9]

Molloy's impressive form continued into the 2021 Women's National League season. She scored four times in a 7–1 win over Treaty United, [10] then hit a "brilliant, long range" goal in a 5–0 win over Galway two weeks later. [11] She was named Player of the Match in the 2021 FAI Women's Cup Final, as Wexford Youths defeated Shelbourne 3–1. [12] She retained her place in the Team of the Season at the 2021 WNL Awards. [13] Having scored 13 goals from midfield she agreed to remain with Wexford Youths for the following season. [14]

In 2022 Molloy had scored 16 goals and was the league's second top goal scorer as Wexford Youths challenged for the title. She suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in a September 2022 fixture against Treaty United and missed the run-in. [15]

International career

Youth

Molloy scored an acclaimed goal for the Republic of Ireland women's national under-17 football team against Iceland in February 2020 which went viral on social media and brought her to wider attention. [16] The strike was later voted International Goal of the Year at the FAI International Football Awards, making Molloy the first female winner. [17]

In September 2021 Molloy debuted for the Republic of Ireland women's national under-19 football team, scoring in her team's 2–1 friendly defeat by Norway in Portugal. [18] She made five appearances throughout the year, scoring three goals. [19]

Senior

Senior Republic of Ireland national team coach Vera Pauw called up Molloy for the first time on 28 August 2020, for the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 qualifier against Germany on 19 September 2020. [20] Molloy made her senior international debut in Ireland's next match, against Ukraine in Kyiv on 23 October 2020. [21] She was an 86th-minute substitute for Harriet Scott in Ireland's 1–0 defeat. [22]

After allowing Molloy to gain experience with the under-19s, Pauw recalled her to the seniors in November 2021, for 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A fixtures against Slovakia and Georgia. [23] However a hamstring injury sustained in the 2021 FAI Women's Cup Final forced Molloy to drop out of the squad. [24]

Molloy was called up again in February 2022, for the 2022 Pinatar Cup in Murcia. She sat her Leaving Cert mock exams early in order to take part. Molloy made her first start for Ireland on the occasion of her fifth cap, on 19 February 2022 in the 1–0 defeat by Russia. [25]

International appearances

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearApps
Republic of Ireland 20202
20212
20222
Total6

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Áine O'Gorman</span> Irish footballer (born 1989)

Áine Marie O'Gorman is an Irish professional footballer who plays for Women's National League club Shamrock Rovers. At club level, O'Gorman began her senior career with Stella Maris, played for Peamount United and UCD Waves, and also spent two seasons with the English FA WSL club Doncaster Rovers Belles in 2011 and 2012.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephanie Zambra</span> Irish footballer

Stephanie Zambra is an Irish footballer who plays as a striker for Shamrock Rovers of Dublin and the Republic of Ireland women's national football team. Her October 2013 goal in the Women's National League (WNL) for Peamount United was the runner-up for the 2014 FIFA Puskás Award for the best goal of the year.

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.

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.

Karen Duggan is an Irish footballer who plays for Peamount United of the Women's National League (WNL). She has previously played for UCD Waves and the Republic of Ireland women's national football team. Between 2013 and 2016 Duggan was selected for the WNL Team of the Season for four successive seasons. She was the only player selected all four seasons. In 2015–16 she was also WNL Senior Player of the Season. Duggan has also played camogie at club, university and county level.

The 2017 Women's National League, known for sponsorship reasons as the Continental Tyres Women's National League, was the seventh season of the Women's National League, the highest women's association football league in the Republic of Ireland. It was the second league season to run over an entire calendar year.

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

The 2020 Women's National League was the 10th season of the Women's National League, the highest women's association football league in the Republic of Ireland.

<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.

Claire Walsh is an Irish footballer who plays as a defender for Glasgow City of the Scottish Women's Premier League (SWPL) and the Republic of Ireland national team. A product of the American college soccer system with Central Connecticut Blue Devils, she has previously played club soccer for New England Mutiny in the United States and for Women's National League (WNL) clubs Peamount United and UCD Waves. She has also played inter county Ladies' Gaelic football for her native Wicklow GAA.

Zara Foley is an Irish former professional footballer who played for Women's National League team Cork City, and the Republic of Ireland women's national football team, as a defender.

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.

Eleanor Sarah Ryan-Doyle is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Durham of the English Women's Championship. She previously played for Peamount United of the Women's National League (WNL).

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.

Abbie Sheila Larkin is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for FA Women's Championship club Crystal Palace and the Republic of Ireland women's national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jessie Stapleton</span> Irish footballer

Jessica Stapleton is an Irish footballer who plays as a defender or midfielder for Reading on loan from West Ham United in the Women's Super League and the Republic of Ireland national team.

Aoibheann Clancy 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.

The 2019 FAI Women's Cup Final, known as the 2019 Só Hotels FAI Women's Cup Final for sponsorship reasons, was the final match of the 2019 FAI Women's Cup, the national association football Cup of the Republic of Ireland. The match took place on 3 November 2019 at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Peamount United and Wexford Youths contested the match.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naoisha McAloon</span> Irish association football player

Naoisha McAloon is an Irish footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Women's Championship club Durham and for the Republic of Ireland national team.

References

  1. ↑ Hannigan, Mary (19 September 2020). "Girls in green: meet the Irish women's soccer team". The Irish Times . Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  2. ↑ "Spotlight - Ellen Molloy". Women's National League (Ireland). 8 June 2020. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  3. ↑ O'Keeffe, Shane (20 July 2020). "Presentation Kilkenny's Ellen Molloy has been nominated for FAI award". KCLR 96FM . Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  4. ↑ McGuire, Ken (16 July 2019). "Wexford Youths WFC announce signing of Kilkenny's Ellen Molloy". KCLR 96FM . Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  5. ↑ "A Special Talent - Ellen Molloy". Women's National League (Ireland). 11 August 2020. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  6. ↑ "Wexford Youths' Ellen Molloy wins WNL Player of Month gong for August". RTÉ Sport. 11 September 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  7. ↑ "Wexford Youths inflict first defeat of the season on champions Peamount". RTÉ Sport. 5 September 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  8. ↑ "WNL wrap: Ellen Molloy hits goal of the season contender; Maria O'Sullivan sent off in Cork City loss". Irish Examiner. 1 November 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  9. ↑ Duffy, Emma (20 December 2020). "Peamount stalwart and Wexford teenage sensation win big at end-of-season awards". The42.ie. TheJournal.ie . Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  10. ↑ Duffy, Emma (18 April 2021). "Four goals for 16-year-old Irish international as Wexford Youths in seventh heaven with first win". The42.ie. TheJournal.ie . Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  11. ↑ "Shelbourne hold off Waves to go top of WNL, Wexford hit five, Athlone deny Cork". Irish Examiner. 1 May 2021. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  12. ↑ Duffy, Emma (21 November 2021). "'What's there to say? The kid is just unbelievable'". The42.ie. TheJournal.ie . Retrieved 21 November 2021.
  13. ↑ Healy, Martin (1 December 2021). "Wexford Youths dominate in 2021 SSE Airtricity Women's National League Team of the Season". Extra.ie. DMG Media . Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  14. ↑ Corcoran, Paul (17 January 2022). "Ireland international Ellen Molloy re-signs for Wexford Youths". extratime.com. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  15. ↑ Duffy, Emma (27 September 2022). "Another blow for Ireland as Wexford Youths star Molloy ruled out of World Cup play-off". The42.ie. TheJournal.ie . Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  16. ↑ Whelan, Nathan (16 February 2020). "Watch: Ireland U17 star Ellen Molloy scores glorious solo goal". Extra.ie. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  17. ↑ "The Ice queen! Kilkenny goal hero Ellen Molloy nets another international award". Kilkenny People. 1 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  18. ↑ "Ireland U19s suffer defeat despite Ellen Molloy wonder goal". Irish Examiner. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  19. ↑ "WU19 | Review of 2021". Football Association of Ireland. 29 December 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  20. ↑ "WNT Squad selected for Germany test". Football Association of Ireland. 28 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  21. ↑ Cribben, Robert (23 October 2020). "16 year old Ellen Molloy debuts as Republic of Ireland fall to Ukraine in European Championship Qualifier". Kilkenny People . Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  22. ↑ "Ukraine 1-0 Republic of Ireland". UEFA. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  23. ↑ Kelly, David (19 November 2021). "Ellen Molloy back in picture as Vera Pauw names squad for Slovakia and Georgia World Cup qualifiers". Irish Independent . Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  24. ↑ "Injured Ellen Molloy out of Ireland squad, call up for 16-year-old Jessie Stapleton". Irish Examiner. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  25. ↑ Duffy, Emma (22 February 2022). "The 17-year-old Leaving Cert student lighting it up with Ireland". TheJournal.ie . Retrieved 12 November 2022.
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.