Young soccer star will be honoured by Tipperary United Sports Panel

In a year when Ireland’s women’s team played at the World Cup finals for the very first time, a young Clonmel woman also made an impression in the sport of association football.

Méabh Russell represented the Irish Under 19 team last October in the European qualifiers in Belgium, playing all three games against the Netherlands, Belgium and the Faroe Islands.

On home soil, she added to her burgeoning reputation by winning a national title with her club Wexford, as they won the Under 19 league by beating Shelbourne 3-0.

Méabh also enjoyed a successful season with the Wexford Youth senior team. The young defender played in 17 of Wexford’s 20 League of Ireland games.

As a defender she had one of the best disciplinary records in the entire league, picking up only one yellow card all season, as well as being named player of the match on four occasions.

Wexford Youths finished a comfortable seventh in what is a very competitive and keenly contested league.

The four-time Women’s Premier Division champions Wexford Youths will play under the same banner as Wexford FC from this year, when Méabh Russell is expected to play a vital role in their efforts to get back to the top table of women’s soccer.

Méabh's achievements have been recognised by the Tipperary United Sports Panel, who will present her with an Annerville award, sponsored by Bulmers, at the annual awards ceremony at the Talbot Hotel Clonmel this Saturday night.