While other first year science students were busy familiarising themselves with aspects of student life at IT Sligo during their first week at college, Sligo girl Orla Devanney was proudly representing her country at the UEFA championships under 19 qualifiers in Croatia.
The team played three matches in the European Qualifiers. They beat Cyprus 5-0 but lost to Croatia 1-0 and Russia 3-0. While the team failed to qualify for the European finals, it was a memorable experience for the Riverstown student.
Orla was quickly back into her stride on her return to IT Sligo and her aim now is to ensure that any achievements on the football pitch are matched by similar results on the academic field.
“I am delighted to be here at IT Sligo. The facilities here are fantastic and state of the art. There is also the impressive new sports complex. I know that the ladies soccer club at IT Sligo has been one of the most successful teams at intervarsity level for many years, so that is important to me also,” she said.
IT Sligo have won WSCAI Premier League on four occasions and been runners-up four times. The college has also won Intervarsity Cups twice and was runner-up on three occasions over the past decade.
Orla started playing soccer at under 10 level with Arrow Harps and then at sixteen, she moved over to Ballina Town. A short move to Wexford team Glen Celtic coincided with some studies there but this year she is back with Ballina Town, and of course, IT Sligo.
She was over age for the recent under 17s World Cup adventure in Trinidad & Tobago, but she knows and has played with most of the team.
“I would have loved to have been there, but it was a fantastic achievement for the team and I am very proud of them and the way they have put Ladies soccer into the national limelight in a positive way,” she said.
The sentiment is echoed by long standing and highly regarded IT Sligo soccer coach, Francis O’Regan.
“The skills and technical abilities in ladies soccer has improved hugely over the last five or six years at IT Sligo, as has the fitness levels. Many would have international experience at under age or senior level. Orla is one of the most exciting prospects that has emerged from Sligo in a long time. She had already performed very well with the Irish under 17 team and now with the under 19 team last week in Croatia,” he said.
Asked if she would ever turn professional or move to a big club across the water, Orla said that it would be something that she would certainly consider.
“The next level is senior level for me and it is something that I would consider. Obviously I have to take my education seriously, as I am not going to be playing football all my life.”
Her ambition now is to finish her studies at IT Sligo and gain honours for Ireland at senior level.
Three other players from Sligo town also currently play with IT Sligo including Sarah McMoreland, Gemma McDonagh and Amy Gerrity.
