'It's been unreal' - Teenager Weir on whirlwind NI debut
"Wow, where do you start?"Teenager Kascie Weir was struggling to sum up her week, and nobody could blame her.She headed into the international window expecting to be lining out for Northern Ireland's Under-19s in Albania.However, she would be in Tirana for less than a day as she got a call to link up with the senior team.That itself was a whirlwind, but later that week she made her international debut off the bench in Poland.Her lively cameo in Gdansk earned her a first start at home to Bosnia-Herzegovina, when she again impressed and was unfortunate not to score. "I didn't have any clue I was going to come in with the senior team. I was in Albania for less than 24 hours," said the 18-year-old Glentoran striker."This week has just been mad, everything has been happening. I've been in Albania, Poland, England and Northern Ireland. There's just been so much happening."When it sinks in I'd say it will be like, 'wow, what a week I've had'."A senior debut, a senior start - it's been unreal for me."
Weir only found out the morning of the match at Inver Park that she would be starting, something she says did not give her "too much time to think"."We were going through set plays and I was like 'oh my gosh', my name was on the starting team," she said."I was straight onto the phone to tell my dad, I was buzzing. It's a dream come true."If I had known about it last night (Monday, the night before the game) I think I would have been overthinking it a bit more."I had to get stuck in and play my game."
Now, Weir's focus is back on her A-Levels and the new season with her club Glentoran.But after Weir put in another strong showing against Bosnia-Herzegovina, there's no doubt that it won't be her last start at this level.She was unfortunate not to grab a goal on her first start, with two efforts well saved by goalkeeper Almina Hodzic and a third went wide. But the fact she was getting into positions to score shows a natural instinct, while her link-up play was impressive despite only stepping into the senior camp the previous week."I came off and I was gutted because I had a good three shots and their keeper saved a couple," she added."I'll have to put them away next time but I'm buzzing with my performance."
'I'm excited to see her journey'
In Simone Magill, who hit two late goals to give NI victory over the Bosnians, Weir has the ideal role model to look up to.Both natural number nines, Weir says Northern Ireland's captain is "an unreal player"."Her movement off the ball, she scores goals and she is absolutely amazing," said Weir."She has been helping me through the whole camp and guiding me, which has been great. I love the support from her."Magill said she had been impressed with the youngster, who is "hungry to learn and asks lots of questions"."Kascie has been excellent this week with how she has slotted in and not looked out of place," said Magill. "She was really unlucky not to get on the scoresheet. I'm really pleased for her and she'll be delighted with her performance as well."Hopefully it's something she can keep building on and I'm really excited to see where her journey is going to go."
After putting her faith in youth, Northern Ireland manager Tanya Oxtoby said Weir was "superb" on her first start and was unfortunate not to get her name on the scoresheet."I think people are learning with me now that if you're good enough, you're old enough," added Oxtoby. "She has impressed since she has been in with us and she earned her start tonight." The Australian hinted at young players following the lead of Weir and midfielder Keri Halliday and stepping into the senior team from the under-19s in the future."You'll see a few more, for sure. We're in a really good place. "There are a few who are transitioning out (of the under-19s) and probably ready to start to be integrated into the squad. "We're definitely in a really good space in terms of the squad."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ITV News
2 hours ago
- ITV News
Kenny Logan leads celebrity team on 555-mile Ireland cycle in memory of Doddie Weir
A team of celebrities and rugby players are preparing for a 555-mile cycle challenge around the island of Ireland to raise funds for research into motor neurone disease (MND) in memory of the late Doddie Weir. Weir died of MND aged 52 in November 2022, after years of campaigning to raise awareness of the condition and funds into research. Scottish rugby legend Kenny Logan and his television presenter wife Gabby are among those preparing to take part in Doddie'5 Lions Challenge, cycling around 100 miles a day for six days, departing from Belfast on Sunday. The team will cycle through counties including Galway, Limerick and Cork, to arrive in Dublin on June 20 and deliver the match ball to the Aviva Stadium for the British and Irish Lions' 1888 Cup clash with Argentina. Some participants have had to pull out due to injury, including Weir's son Hamish, who will instead drive a support vehicle, while Scotland rugby stars Bryan Redpath and Hugo Southwell, and ex-Lions and Ireland international Rob Henderson, will also no longer be able to take part. Football legend Ally McCoist, actor Jamie Bamber, former Harlequins player Mel Deane, and cancer campaigner Iain Ward will all take part alongside the Logans. The challenge has raised more than £300,000 for My Name'5 Doddie Foundation and the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association so far, with hopes of reaching £500,000 before Sunday. Kenny Logan will lead the team, and he has been doing intensive hill sessions on an exercise bike twice a week ahead of his second endurance fundraiser for MND research. He joined the Edinburgh to Paris cycle in 2023 which raised almost £1 million. He said: 'We've lost a few to injury, and it just shows how demanding this is going to be. I've had my own aches and pains. No major injuries thankfully but I've definitely been reminded why I probably shouldn't be moving this much at my age. 'I'm most nervous about the hills. I convinced myself Ireland was flat – it's definitely not. But nerves are good. I've always had them before a big challenge. 'The support's been incredible. We've still got time to push, and every penny counts. 'Since Doddie died, awareness has grown massively – but we still need to fund research. The foundation has committed nearly £20 million already, which is phenomenal, but it's only the beginning. 'Doddie would be proud – but he'd be telling us to go further and faster. That's why we're doing this.' He joked that McCoist needed some help with bike maintenance. Logan said: 'Ally's been out and about, but his bike broke down the other day. I told him not to trust himself to check the batteries on his fancy gears – someone else needs to do that for him.'
BBC News
7 hours ago
- BBC News
Heatley signs one-year deal with Carrick Rangers
Paul Heatley has signed a one-year contract extension with Irish Premiership side Carrick Rangers. The 37-year-old has extended his stay at Taylors Avenue after helping Carrick retain their top-flight status with a play-off win over Annagh United. Twelve years after initially leaving the club, Heatley rejoined Carrick in August after winning three league titles and three Irish Cups with Crusaders."To be asked by the Club to give another year was incredibly flattering," said Heatley. "Carrick are an incredible club, full of fantastic people so it was an easy answer. I'm excited about what the future holds for the club and if they feel I am able to help next season then of course I will happily offer all I have to offer."Elsewhere in the top flight, forward Jordan Jenkins and midfielder Charlie Lindsay have agreed new two-year deals with leaving Carrick at the end of the season, goalkeeper Ross Glendinning has signed for Loughgall as the Villagers look to secure an immediate return to the top flight.
South Wales Guardian
18 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Celebrities embark on 555-mile cycle for MND research and deliver Lions match ball
Weir died of MND aged 52 in November 2022, after years of campaigning to raise awareness of the condition and funds into research. Scottish rugby legend Kenny Logan and his television presenter wife Gabby are among those preparing to take part in Doddie'5 Lions Challenge, cycling around 100 miles a day for six days, departing from Belfast on Sunday. The team will cycle through counties including Galway, Limerick and Cork, to arrive in Dublin on June 20 and deliver the match ball to the Aviva Stadium for the British and Irish Lions' 1888 Cup clash with Argentina. Some participants have had to pull out due to injury, including Weir's son Hamish, who will instead drive a support vehicle, while Scotland rugby stars Bryan Redpath and Hugo Southwell, and ex-Lions and Ireland international Rob Henderson, will also no longer be able to take part. Football legend Ally McCoist, actor Jamie Bamber, former Harlequins player Mel Deane, and cancer campaigner Iain Ward will all take part alongside the Logans. The challenge has raised more than £300,000 for My Name'5 Doddie Foundation and the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association so far, with hopes of reaching £500,000 before Sunday. Kenny Logan will lead the team, and he has been doing intensive hill sessions on an exercise bike twice a week ahead of his second endurance fundraiser for MND research. He joined the Edinburgh to Paris cycle in 2023 which raised almost £1 million. He said: 'We've lost a few to injury, and it just shows how demanding this is going to be. I've had my own aches and pains. No major injuries thankfully but I've definitely been reminded why I probably shouldn't be moving this much at my age. 'I'm most nervous about the hills. I convinced myself Ireland was flat – it's definitely not. But nerves are good. I've always had them before a big challenge. 'The support's been incredible. We've still got time to push, and every penny counts. 'Since Doddie died, awareness has grown massively – but we still need to fund research. The foundation has committed nearly £20 million already, which is phenomenal, but it's only the beginning. 'Doddie would be proud – but he'd be telling us to go further and faster. That's why we're doing this.' He joked that McCoist needed some help with bike maintenance. Logan said: 'Ally's been out and about, but his bike broke down the other day. I told him not to trust himself to check the batteries on his fancy gears – someone else needs to do that for him.' Weir set up the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation in 2017, the year after he was diagnosed with MND. All funds raised form the cycle will support the foundation to find effective treatments and ultimately a cure for MND. To donate or learn more, visit
