MILTOWN MALBAY’s Abi Kelly is lining out with the Irish U18s in their Six Nations campaign.
Back to back wins have been recorded by Ireland as they bounced back from a heavy defeat to France.
A member of the Ennis RFC club, Abi is the only Clare representative in the squad of twenty eight.
Running over Easter, the U18 Women’s Festival sees Ireland play two full matches and two thirty five minute games. Ireland began with a heavy 59-0 defeat to France in the opening round before bouncing back to beat England 12-5 and Scotland 12-7.
Abi was introduced as a substitute in the French game, breaching the French 22 with an injection of pace close to the left touchline not long after her introduction.
She started the England game and was responsible for helping Ireland get towards the opposing 22 for the first time after scooping up a partially blocked England kick. Kelly was again brought off the bench when it came to the Scotland clash.
A fifth year student at St Joseph’s Spanish Point, Abi is also one of the most promising ladies footballers emerging through the underage ranks in Clare. She was a key pillar in her school side reaching a first All-Ireland A final in twenty nine years and won an All-Ireland Minor B title with Clare last year.
