Offaly's Lucy gets call-up to Ireland Women's Under-17s

An up-and-coming footballer from the Midlands has been called into the Ireland Women's Under-17 squad.

Athlone Town player Lucy Fitzgerald was included in the Irish squad travelling to Portugal this week for two international friendlies.

From Blueball in Offaly, Lucy started her footballing journey with the Mucklagh schoolboys and girls club.

The midfielder is one of six players who have gotten their first call-ups to the Irish Under-17s in the squad announced today (Monday) by head coach James Scott.

The trip to Portugal will serve as preparation for the squad's upcoming UEFA Women's European Championship qualifiers.

The Girls in Green will meet Korea Republic this Friday, January 19, before facing Portugal on January 24 as part of a eight-day training camp just outside Lisbon.

Next month, the Irish Under-17s travel to Albania to take on the host nation as well as Israel in European Championship qualifying fixtures.

Lucy Fitzgerald is the latest ex-Mucklagh player to represent her country, with Ellen Dolan, who also started out with the Offaly club, getting called up to the senior international squad recently.

The Ireland Women's Under-17 squad announced today is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Clodagh Fitzgerald (Cork City), Enya Carthy (SJEB Academy – USA)

Defenders: Emma Duffy (Galway United), Lucy O'Rourke (Shelbourne), Clodagh Daly (Shamrock Rovers), Ciara Fitzpatrick (Cork City), Keeva Flynn (Sligo Rovers), Della Cowper Gray (Shamrock Rovers), Keelin Dodd (DLR Waves), Kiera Sena (Cork City)

Midfielders: Aoibhe Brennan (Bohemians), Amy Tierney (Shamrock Rovers), Lucy Fitzgerald (Athlone Town), Anna Hegarty (Bohemians), Ella Kelly (Shamrock Rovers)

Forwards: Katie Lawlee (Treaty United), Hannah O'Brien (Shelbourne), Sorcha Melia (Shamrock Rovers), Rebecca Devereux (Shelbourne), Anna Butler (Shamrock Rovers), Emily Fitzgerald (Galway United), Katie O'Reilly (Shamrock Rovers).