Aoibheann Clancy
Aoibheann Clancy (born 31 October 2003) 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.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 31 October 2003 | ||
| Place of birth | Limerick, Ireland | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team  | Wexford Youths | ||
| Number | 17 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Kilburn Celtic | |||
| Tipperary Town | |||
| 2018–2019 | Limerick WFC | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | 
| 2020– | Wexford Youths | ||
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022– | Republic of Ireland | 1 | (0) | 
| 
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:28, 10 December 2022 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:28, 10 December 2022 (UTC)  | |||
Club career
    
Clancy is from Kilbehenny in County Limerick. At youth level, she played ladies' Gaelic football for Galtee Gaels, and Camogie for St. Fanahan's.[1] In youth soccer, she was active in the Tipperary Schoolboys/girls Southern & District League (TSSDL) for both Kilburn Celtic and Tipperary Town, before she joined the youth system of local Women's National League club Limerick WFC.[2]
Wexford Youths
    
Ahead of the delayed 2020 Women's National League season, Clancy joined Wexford Youths. In September 2020 she made her first start for her new club as Wexford inflicted a first defeat of the season on champions Peamount United. Impressed Wexford coach Tom Elmes declared Clancy "one of the stand-out performances".[3]
Clancy's strong form continued into the 2021 Women's National League season. She was "instrumental" in the 2021 FAI Women's Cup Final, as Wexford Youths defeated Shelbourne 3–1.[4] At the 2021 WNL Awards, she was named in the Team of the Season and beat fellow nominees Ellen Molloy and Jessie Stapleton to the Young Player of the Year.[5]
International career
    
    Youth
    
Clancy represented Ireland at schoolgirl level while she attended Presentation School, Thurles.[6] She was named Player of the Match as Ireland beat England in the final of the 2017 John Read Cup.[7] She was also vice-captain in the team which retained the trophy the following year.[8]
She progressed to the Republic of Ireland women's national under-17 football team,[9] and by 2021 was playing for Dave Connell's Republic of Ireland women's national under-19 football team. She made a single appearance during the calendar year.[10]
Senior
    
Clancy's first senior call-up was for a friendly game against Australia on 21 September 2021 at Tallaght Stadium.[11] The national team coach Vera Pauw had been impressed by her good form with her club and in home-based training sessions.[12] Clancy won her first senior cap on 14 November 2022, as a 62nd-minute substitute for Denise O'Sullivan in a 4–0 friendly win over Morocco staged in Marbella, Spain.[13]
International appearances
    
| National team | Year | Apps | 
|---|---|---|
| Republic of Ireland | 2022 | 1 | 
| Total | 1 | |
Playing style
    
Clancy is a versatile box-to-box midfielder, whose "quick feet and awareness allow her to operate superbly between the lines".[14][15]
Personal life
    
In 2022 Clancy began studying biomedical sciences at University College Dublin.[16]
References
    
- Roche, Marian (25 November 2021). "Aoibheann nominated for Young Player of the Year". The Avondhu. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
 - "Tipperary schoolgirl soccer stars bidding to make international breakthrough". The Nationalist (Tipperary). 13 February 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
 - Williams, Tadhg (10 September 2020). "Wexford Youths boss Elmes: 'I'm happy with how we've started. We're putting points on the board, that's the main thing and we're gaining momentum'". Extratime.com. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
 - Duffy, Emma (23 November 2021). "Wexford teen star hopes to keep good times rolling with Ireland after cup dream becomes reality". The42.ie. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
 - 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.
 - "Aoibheann Clancy". FAI Schools. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
 - "Ireland Schools secure John Read Cup". Football Association of Ireland. 13 March 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
 - "Tipperary girls soccer star Aoibheann making big impact with Irish team". The Nationalist (Tipperary). 16 March 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
 - Kinsella, Colm (29 October 2018). "Three Limerick players help Rep of Ireland U-17s reach European Championship elite phase". Limerick Leader. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
 - "WU19 | Review of 2021". Football Association of Ireland. 29 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
 - Saunders, Joe (16 September 2021). "Limerick native Aoibheann Clancy receives Ireland international senior team call-up". Limerick Post. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
 - "Trio called up to WNT squad for Australia". Football Association of Ireland. 14 September 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
 - "Aoibheann Clancy makes her full debut for Ireland". Wexford People. 16 November 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
 - "Five Players On The Rise". Women's National League (Ireland). 21 October 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
 - "Rising Stars: Nine to Watch in 2021". Women's National League (Ireland). 19 March 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
 - Roche, Marian (13 October 2022). "Kilbehenny's Aoibheann Clancy has eyes set on World Cup". The Avondhu. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
 
External links
    
- Aoibheann Clancy at Soccerway