Wexford's Robyn O'Connor's named on Team of the 2025 Six Nations Women's Summer Series
Coached by Niamh Briggs, the Ireland squad won two of their three Summer Series matches – a first for Irish rugby's leading age-grade talent – and posted a new record victory when running out 62-7 winners over Scotland in Caerphilly.
O'Connor, whose quick feet and eye for a break have seen her shine in the back three, started this past season with an eye-catching senior debut for Leinster as she helped them to become back-to-back interprovincial champions.
One of 37 centralised players contracted to the IRFU Women's High Performance programme, the Wexford native has gained valuable experience with the Ireland Women's Sevens team, scoring four tries during her maiden HSBC SVNS Series campaign.
Like Neill, the recent Summer Series was O'Connor's second tournament with the Ireland Under-20s after playing in Parma last summer.
She finished as the joint-third top try scorer in Wales with three tries, including one during the opening 27-10 triumph over the host nation.
Just a couple of days after her 20th birthday, she bagged a second-half brace against the Scots in a lively cameo performance.
Notably, she topped the 2025 Series' stats for running metres (317.4) and line breaks (6), and made double figures for tackle breaks (10).
Reflecting on the runaway win over Scotland, O'Connor said: 'I was very happy with how I performed, but huge credit to the rest of the girls who were able to create space for me and get the ball to me.
'I'm very proud of this team. We only came together at the beginning of this year, and we've become so close over the past two weeks at the tournament. We've really grown together as a team and that showed during the performance.
ADVERTISEMENT
'We're very excited and proud of how we performed. In comparison to the loss to France, we really came on and we tidied up the little bits that we needed to get better. We're all feeling great about that.'
The full team is: 15. Poppy Mellanby (Scotland); 14. Anaick Konyi (France); 13. Savannah Picton-Powell (Wales); 12. Lucy MacRae (Scotland); 11. Robyn O'Connor (Ireland); 10. Ceitidh Ainsworth (Scotland); 9. Pauline Barrat (France); 1. Mailys Borak (France); 2. Chiara Cheli (Italy); 3. Alice Antonazzo (Italy); 4. Jane Neill (Ireland); 5. Robyn Davies (Wales); 6. Lou Roboam (France); 7. Sophie McQueen (England); 8. Elena Errichiello (Italy).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The 42
2 hours ago
- The 42
Teenager Elding scores 10th of the season as Sligo knock out Bohs
Bohemians 0 Sligo Rovers 1 Paul Buttner reports from Dalymount Park SAM SARGEANT saved a penalty before Owen Elding scored another cracking goal at Dalymount Park to leave Bohemians looking back in anger at their FAI Cup exit. Sligo Rovers have enjoyed some big cup days and nights at the home of Irish football. The Bit O' Red lifted their first FAI Cup at Dalymount on a rain-sodden afternoon in 1983. Their more recent back-to-back wins in 2010 and 2011 came after narrow semi-final victories over Bohemians at the Phibsborough venue when current manager John Russell was a player. And they put their league struggles behind them to delight their 400-strong fans to book their spot in the quarter-final of this year's competition. Beaten finalists twice in the last four years, Bohs' quest for another Blue Riband will now stretch to 18 years. Sporting their all-light blue 'oasis' kit, given the weekend that's in it, Bohemians were put on the back foot early on as Sligo started with plenty of purpose. And as they struggled to get into the game, Bohs survived a right let off on 14 minutes. A mistake by skipper Keith Buckley gifted the ball to Jad Hakiki, who skipped into the clear in Bohs' half. But a poor touch allowed James Talbot to get to the ball first to avert the danger. Advertisement Having scarcely been in the game, Bohs then conjured the first real sight of goal a minute later. Dayle Rooney put opposite winger Connor Parsons away on the left. And though the Englishman cleverly cut past Conor Reynolds, his drive was saved by Sargeant at the keeper's right-hand post. Very much alive in the game now, Bohs troubled Sligo again minutes later from Rooney's corner, Douglas James-Taylor meeting the delivery to plant his header wide. Sebastian Quirk was likewise off target with a shot at the other end from Sligo's third corner of the night in an open contest. With the visitors back enjoying a spell of concerted pressure, Buckley had to clear Patrick McClean's header off the line from Ryan O'Kane's corner in the big chance of the half. Moments later, winger O'Kane saw his ball into the area whizz past the far post. The end-to-end action continued as half-time approached, Parsons firing wide of the Sligo goal after skilfully working the opening before Sargeant tipped away a dangerous cross-shot from Rooney. Twice coming close to taking the lead just before the interval, Bohs blew a real chance to do so three minutes into the second half after McClean tripped Devoy to concede a penalty. Sargeant chose the right way to bat away Rooney's spot kick. James-Taylor was then guilty of blazing over the top after Ross Tierney's put the rebound back into the area. Six minutes later, Sligo punished poor defending to take the lead with a fine goal. The tenacity of Fitzgerald nicked the ball off Buckley to feed it on to Elding. The 19-year-old, who scored on his last visit to Dalymount in June, needed little invitation to take on the shot first time with his left foot to drill it past Talbot to the bottom corner for his 10th goal of the season. With Bohs chasing the game now, Sargeant made his second telling save of the night to tip over a Rooney cross that had deflected goalwards off defender Ollie Denham. Try as they might, Bohs couldn't conjure an equaliser with Sargeant there again with another top stop to deny substitute Rhys Brennan on 90 minutes. Bohemians: Talbot; Morahan, Byrne, Kavanagh (Smith, 54), Flores; Buckley (McDonnell, 67), Devoy; Rooney (Brennan, 67), Tierney, Parsons; James-Taylor (Whelan, 74). Sligo Rovers: Sargeant; Reynolds (Agbaje, 51), Denham, McClean, Stewart; Harkin, Quirk; O'Kane (Patton, 81), Hakiki (Manning, 81), Fitzgerald; Elding. Referee: Kevin O'Sullivan (Cork). Attendance: 4,246. Other FAI Cup results: Finn Harps 3-1 Bray Salthill 0-4 Galway Utd Kerry 2-0 Cobh Ramblers FAI Women's Cup quarter-final Shelbourne 1-2 Shamrock Rovers
Extra.ie
3 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Football icon John Giles celebrates his retirement from punditry
John Giles has celebrated his retirement from punditry at the age of 84. The football icon's voice and insight have been a fixture in Irish broadcasting for nearly three decades with Bauer Media Audio Ireland, and for the past 23 years with Off The Ball. His Thursday night analysis became a hallmark of the programme. John Giles as Off The Ball honoured him with a special night of celebration at Dublin's Sugar Club. Pic: Brian McEvoy Since joining Off The Ball in 2002, he has held the distinction of being the longest-running current pundit in Irish media. Giles is renowned for his sharp football intellect, uncompromising honesty and deep passion for the game. Off The Ball honoured the Republic of Ireland legend with an evening of celebration. Former footballer Eddie Gray, Off The Ball's Nathan Murphy, John Giles, Off The Ball's Eoin Sheahan and Off The Ball managing director Ger Gilroy and former footballer Joe Jordan. Pic: Brian McEvoy John Giles was joined by his wife Anne and children Joanna, Catherine, Chris and Paul. Friends and football greats Brian Kerr, Eddie Gray and Joe Jordan were also among those who stopped by Dublin's Sugar Club for a night of nostalgia and tributes. John Giles' children Chris, Joanna, Paul and Catherine at the Off The Ball celebration. Pic: Brian McEvoy John Giles is one of the most influential men in the history of Irish football. A career spanning almost 70 years started with a move to Manchester United at just 15 years old in 1956. He went on to win two league titles with Leeds United. Eddie Gray and John Giles share a laugh on stage at the celebration. Pic: Brian McEvoy Giles represented his country 59 times as well as becoming player-manager for the national team. He later became one of the most familiar faces on Irish television when he joined the RTÉ Sport panel as a senior pundit. Speaking about John Giles, Ger Gilroy, managing director, Off The Ball, said: 'John Giles, senior analyst, is a titan of Irish sport.' Brian Kerr and John Giles. Pic: Brian McEvoy 'His weekly explanation of football truth on Off The Ball helped deepen what the country knows about football.' 'His ability to see through bullshit and his love of the game shone through in every contribution.' Joe Jordan, Eddie Gray, John Giles, Nathan Murphy and Eoin Sheahan. Pic: Brian McEvoy 'Off The Ball has been blessed to call John a mentor, colleague and friend for over 20 years, he set the bar for what's expected every Thursday night and we can only hope to live up to his legacy.' 'We have truly been standing on the shoulders of a giant.'
RTÉ News
4 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Rovers come from behind to dump Shels out of the cup
Shamrock Rovers dumped holders Shelbourne out of the FAI Cup at the quarter-final stage with a thrilling come-from-behind victory at a feisty Tolka Park. Two goals in a minute after the break did the damage for The Hoops who continued their Tolka Park hoodoo over the Reds - unbeaten in five now in Drumcondra - despite falling behind to an excellent team goal, finished off by Pearl Slattery in the first half. With maybe a potential hint of revenge stirring in visitors dressing room following last season's dramatic loss at the same stage, in which a jubilant Jemma Quinn planted the Shelbourne flag in the middle of the Tallaght pitch, the Hoops started brightly with flying wingers Anna Butler and Ella Kelly looking to get in behind the Shels back three on every occasion. But the home side, who now sit top of the tightly contested league table having leapfrogged Athlone Town at the summit racking up three wins on the spin, showed good patience and played their way into the hotly contested encounter. With little in the way of goalmouth action, it took until just after 20-minutes for the first shot in anger and was well worth the wait for the 705 in attendance. Started by last week's match winner against Waterford, Alex Kavanagh, the home side put together a passing move of the highest quality followed by a majestic turn and pass by Aoibheann Clancy in the middle. The Irish international then played a perfectly weighted slide rule pass to Slattery, who had stayed forward following an earlier set-piece, and the skipper finished with all the quality of seasoned number nine through the legs of Summer Lawless. The hosts then went close to doubling their lead shortly after when Noelle Murray sprayed a wonderful left footed pass on the diagonal finding Mackenzie Anthony who broke the offside trap and hit a rasping effort that was agonisingly close to finding the near top corner, catching Lawless off guard. Having nicked a win at Tolka earlier in the season, and having relative success in recent times Stephanie Zambra's side held no fear and kept plugging away but were dealt a huge blow just before the break when Maria Reynolds looked distraught picking up an injury. On the stroke of half time Anthony really should have gotten herself on the scoresheet when Scarlett Herron slipped on a through ball and spilled into the American's path. Anthony again missed the target by a matter of inches dragging her low shot just wide of the target. After a slight tactical change that saw Aine O'Gorman switch to right back following Reynolds injury, Zambra must have also read her side the riot act as her side punished Shels misses with two goals in a minute to completely flip the game on its head. Firstly, the towering Scarlett Herron powered in a back post header from a deep corner before Anna Butler nipped in to take advantage of a sloppy Keeva Kenna pass straight from the resulting tip off and slotted home to give her side the lead. With a sense of anxiety beginning to swirl around Tolka, it was Wearen's turn to look to the bench introducing the match winner from last seasons quarter final Megan Smyth-Lynch and the exciting young Maeve Wollmer. With 15 minutes left the latter spurned yet another chance for the home side as she found herself free at the back post but somehow screwed her shot back across goal from a couple of yards out. With time running out the visitors frustrated the home side with some intricate play in the final third and continued to carry a goal threat but it was now or never for Shels as they threw the kitchen sink at Rovers. In a dramatic ending, the talismanic Murray curled a stunning effort off the bar that, most inside the ground thought was destined for the top corner, and with a couple of minutes left Kavanagh played an inch perfect ball over the top onto Anthony's chest, who rounded Lawless with her first touch. Just as it looked as if the Shels striker was tapping home into an empty net, somehow the Rovers stopper got back around to claw the goal bound strike away with one of the saves of the season to ensure her side progressed to the semi-final. Shelbourne: Amanda McQuillan; Nia Hannon (Maeve Wollmer, 67'), Pearl Slattery, Keeva Keenan (Jemma Quinn, 83'); Jess Gargan, Alex Kavanagh, Rachel Graham (Megan Smyth-Lynch, 72'), Aoibheann Clancy, Leah Doyle; Noelle Murray, Mackenzie Anthony Subs not used: Courtney Maguire, Rebecca Devereux, Gabriella Del Pico, Lucy O'Rourke, Aoife Sheridan, Sarah McCaffrey Shamrock Rovers: Summer Lawless; Fiona Owens, Scarlett Herron, Maria Reynolds (Claire O'Reilly, 46'), Aoife Brophy; Anna Butler (Della Cowper-Gray, 88'), Melissa O'Kane, Jamie Thompson, Ella Kelly; Aine O'Gorman, Emily Corbet
