Claire Walsh (footballer)
{{short description|Irish footballer (born 1994)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Claire Walsh
| fullname = Claire Walsh{{cite web |title=Match Report Mex-IRL 0:0 |url=https://data.2017.gov.taipei/atos/prod/resTP2017/pdf/TP2017/FB/TP2017_FB_C73_FBW400B03.pdf |publisher=2017 Summer Universiade |archive-date=4 August 2019 |date=18 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804193150/https://data.2017.gov.taipei/atos/prod/resTP2017/pdf/TP2017/FB/TP2017_FB_C73_FBW400B03.pdf|access-date=29 November 2020}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1994|10|28}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/womenseuro/teams/players/250022442--claire-walsh/|title=Claire Walsh {{!}} Republic of Ireland {{!}} UEFA Women's EURO|website=UEFA|access-date=26 November 2020}}{{Soccerway|id=202975|accessdate=26 November 2020}}
| birth_place = Kilbride, County Wicklow, Ireland{{cite web |title=Claire Walsh |url=https://www.extratime.com/player/11113110/claire_walsh/ |publisher=Extratime.com |access-date=29 November 2020}}
| height = 5ft 9in{{cite web |title=Claire Walsh |url=https://ccsubluedevils.com/sports/wsoc/2014-15/bios/walsh_claire_e39k |publisher=Central Connecticut State University |access-date=29 November 2020}}
| position = Defender
| currentclub = Glasgow City
| clubnumber = 5
| youthclubs1 = Lakeside FC
| youthclubs2 = Peamount United
| collegeyears1 = 2012–2015
| college1 = Central Connecticut Blue Devils
| collegecaps1 = 59
| collegegoals1 = 6
| years1 = 2011–2012
| clubs1 = Peamount United
| years2 = 2015–2016
| clubs2 = New England Mutiny
| years3 = 2017
| clubs3 = UCD Waves
| years4 = 2018–2021
| clubs4 = Peamount United
| years5 = 2021–
| clubs5 = Glasgow City
| caps5 = 23
| goals5 = 4
| nationalyears1 = 2019–
| nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland
| nationalcaps1 = 4
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| pcupdate = 01 May 2023 (UTC)
| ntupdate = 19 February 2022
}}
Claire Walsh (born 28 October 1994) is an Irish footballer who plays as a defender for Glasgow City of the Scottish Women's Premier League (SWPL) and the Republic of Ireland national team. A product of the American college soccer system with Central Connecticut Blue Devils, she has previously played club soccer for New England Mutiny in the United States and for Women's National League (WNL) clubs Peamount United and UCD Waves. She has also played inter county Ladies' Gaelic football for her native Wicklow GAA.
Club career
Walsh played for Lakeside FC of Blessington from under-12 to under-15 level, then progressed through Peamount United's youth system.{{cite news |last1=Ryan |first1=Andrew |title=A path less travelled: Kilbride, the US and now Peamount |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/braypeople/sport/soccer/a-path-less-travelled-kilbride-the-us-and-now-peamount-40238414.html |access-date=28 May 2022 |publisher=Wicklow People |date=27 March 2021}} Head coach Eileen Gleeson promoted Walsh into the senior squad at 16 years old for a 2011–12 UEFA Women's Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain Féminine.{{cite news |last1=Fallon |first1=John |title=Claire Walsh happy to see Gleeson in Irish fold |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-30955322.html |access-date=29 November 2020 |publisher=Irish Examiner |date=7 October 2019}} Walsh completed her Leaving Cert in 2012 and accepted an offer to play four years of college soccer for the Central Connecticut State University "Blue Devils".{{cite news |last1=Duffy |first1=Emma |title=Breakout Ireland star 'focusing on Peamount and loving it' as top-of-the-table clash 'just another game' |url=https://www.the42.ie/claire-walsh-peamount-ireland-feature-5483898-Jul2021/ |access-date=28 May 2022 |publisher=The42.ie |date=3 July 2021}}
In May 2015, Walsh signed for Women's Premier Soccer League club New England Mutiny.{{cite news |title=New England Mutiny Announce First Wave of Signings |url=http://www.mutinysoccer.com/news/2015/05/01/roster-release/ |access-date=29 November 2020 |publisher=New England Mutiny |date=1 May 2015}} They reached the East Region final in the 2015 WPSL season, but Walsh was out injured for the 2–0 defeat by Boston Breakers Reserves.{{cite news |title=New England Mutiny fall to the Breakers Reserves in WPSL East Final |url=https://www.masslive.com/mutiny/2015/07/new_england_mutiny_fall_to_the.html |access-date=29 November 2020 |work=Mass Live |publisher=Advance Publications |date=19 July 2015}} Returning in 2016 she made six appearances as New England Mutiny, now playing in United Women's Soccer, finished second in the Eastern Conference.{{cite web |title=Claire Walsh #3 D |url=https://uwssoccer.sportngin.com/roster_players/12454880 |publisher=United Women's Soccer |access-date=29 November 2020}}
In the 2017 Women's National League, Walsh played for UCD Waves while completing a master's degree in computer science at University College Dublin.{{cite news |title=Walsh delighted with move to Peamount United |url=https://www.pressreader.com/ireland/wicklow-people-west-edition/20180207/282196536406081 |access-date=29 November 2020 |publisher=Wicklow People |date=7 February 2018}} Playing under her former Peamount coach Eileen Gleeson, she captained The Waves to a fourth-place finish in the League and a 1–0 FAI Women's Cup final defeat by Cork City at the Aviva Stadium.{{cite news |last1=Galvin |first1=Kevin |title=Cork City Women's side Shine at the Aviva |url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-40175643.html |access-date=28 May 2022 |publisher=The Echo (Cork newspaper) |date=6 November 2017}}
Ahead of the 2018 Women's National League season, Walsh returned to Peamount United: "My main reason for moving would be that I'm finished up studying in UCD. Peamount has always been my club and it's closer to home". In 2019 Walsh displayed good form and was named to the WNL Team of the Season, as The Peas recaptured the League title for the first time since 2011–12.{{cite news |title=Champions Peamount United lead way on Team of the Year |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2019/1113/1090526-champions-peamount-united-lead-way-on-team-of-the-year/ |access-date=29 November 2020 |publisher=RTÉ Sport |date=13 November 2019}} She also played in Peamount's 2018 and 2019 FAI Women's Cup final defeats by Wexford Youths.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/wexford-youths-seal-the-treble-thanks-to-katrina-parrocks-first-half-winner-37490862.html|title=Wexford Youths seal the treble thanks to Katrina Parrock's first-half winner|website=independent}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2019/1103/1088347-wexford-youths-swing-five-goal-thriller-to-win-fai-cup/|title=Wexford Youths swing five-goal thriller to win FAI Cup|first=Ed|last=Leahy|date=3 November 2019|via=www.rte.ie}}
After helping Peamount United secure a League and Cup "double" in their 2020 campaign, Walsh signed a two-year professional contract with Scottish Women's Premier League club Glasgow City in July 2021.{{cite news |last1=Ryan |first1=Andrew |title=Walsh off to Glasgow |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wicklow/sport/soccer/walsh-off-to-glasgow-40622111.html |access-date=14 July 2021 |publisher=Irish Independent |date=10 July 2021}}
International career
While enrolled at University College Dublin, Walsh represented Ireland at the 2017 Summer Universiade. Republic of Ireland coach Colin Bell gave Walsh her first senior call-up for the FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying fixture against Northern Ireland in September 2017.{{cite news |last1=Frith |first1=Wilf |title=Colin Bell Names #IRLWNT Squad for All-Irish Clash |url=https://shekicks.net/colin-bell-names-irlwnt-squad-irish-clash/ |access-date=29 November 2020 |publisher=She Kicks |date=31 August 2017}}
In August 2019, she won her first senior cap in a 3–0 friendly defeat by the United States at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, under interim manager Tom O'Connor.{{cite news |last1=Hill |first1=Bill |url=https://billhillwicklow.com/claire-walsh-from-a-wicklow-lgfa-star-to-an-irish-womens-international-star/ |access-date=29 November 2020 |publisher=Bill Hill Wicklow |date=5 September 2019 | title =Claire Walsh – From A Wicklow LGFA Star To An Irish Women's International Star}}{{cite news |title=World champions USA prove too strong for Ireland as victory tour kicks off |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/world-champions-usa-prove-too-strong-for-ireland-as-victory-tour-kicks-off-38372809.html |access-date=6 November 2020 |publisher=Irish Independent |date=4 August 2019}} Walsh entered the match as a substitute for her fellow County Wicklow woman Louise Quinn.{{cite news |title=Flying the flag! |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/braypeople/sport/flying-the-flag-38380535.html |access-date=29 November 2020 |publisher=Bray People |date=10 August 2019}} She made a competitive substitute appearance in the opening UEFA Women's Euro 2022 qualifier against Montenegro, a 2–0 win at Tallaght Stadium on 3 September 2019.
In April 2021, Walsh started her first game for Ireland, a 1–0 defeat by Belgium at King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels.
| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | ||
| scope="col" | National team
!scope="col" | Year | scope="col"| Apps | scope="col"| Goals |
|---|---|---|
| rowspan="3"|Republic of Ireland
|scope="row"| 2019 | 2 | 0 |
| scope="row"| 2021 | 1 | 0 |
| scope="row"| 2022 | 1 | 0 |
| colspan="2"|Total | 4 | 0 |
Gaelic football
After returning from University in the United States, Walsh played Ladies' Gaelic football for Wicklow GAA, competing in the Ladies' National Football League and All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies' Football Championship. She decided to prioritise soccer in 2018.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.fai.ie/ireland/player/888846115 Claire Walsh] at Football Association of Ireland
{{Glasgow City L.F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walsh, Claire}}
Category:Republic of Ireland women's association footballers
Category:Women's association football defenders
Category:Peamount United F.C. players
Category:Republic of Ireland women's international footballers
Category:Alumni of University College Dublin
Category:Ladies' Gaelic footballers who switched code
Category:Central Connecticut Blue Devils women's soccer players
Category:Central Connecticut State University alumni
Category:Women's Premier Soccer League players
Category:New England Mutiny players
Category:League of Ireland Women's Premier Division players
Category:Irish expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Category:Association footballers from County Wicklow
Category:Expatriate women's soccer players in the United States
Category:Republic of Ireland expatriate women's association footballers
Category:Expatriate women's footballers in Scotland
Category:Irish expatriate sportspeople in Scotland
Category:Scottish Women's Premier League players