Alexandra Kavanagh (born 11 December 1999) is an Irish association footballer who plays for Women's National League (WNL) club Shelbourne and the Republic of Ireland women's national team. She is a central midfielder with good technique,[2] who is also a capable goal scorer.[3]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alexandra Kavanagh[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1999-12-11) 11 December 1999 (age 22) | ||
| Place of birth | Finglas, Dublin | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Shelbourne | ||
| Number | 6 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Home Farm | |||
| 2011–2015 | Shelbourne | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016– | Shelbourne | ||
| National team‡ | |||
| 2016–2018 | Republic of Ireland U19 | 17 | (3) |
| 2016– | Republic of Ireland | ||
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 01:17, 6 December 2020 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 01:17, 6 December 2020 (UTC) | |||
Kavanagh is from Finglas, Dublin and began playing soccer for Shelbourne's girls' teams in 2011 when she was 11 years old.[4] She also played up to under-14 level with Home Farm, as the only girl in the team.[5]
In January 2016 Kavanagh was elevated into Shelbourne's Women's National League squad, scoring on her debut on 20 February 2016; a 12–1 win over a Castlebar Celtic team in rapid decline.[4][note 1] In the remainder of the 2015–16 season Kavanagh featured as Shelbourne were edged out by Wexford Youths in both the WNL Shield final and a play-off for the League title.[6][7]
In the 2016 season, Kavanagh started the 5–0 FAI Women's Cup final win over Wexford Youths[8] as Shelbourne secured a League and Cup "double".[9] She displayed good form in the 2019 Women's National League, being named WNL Player of the Month for March 2019,[10] and named in the WNL Team of the Season.[11]
In November 2012 Kavanagh became the youngest ever person to play football for Ireland, when she played for the under-15 schoolgirl team in two matches at St George's Park National Football Centre in Burton upon Trent, England. At 12 years old she broke the record previously held by Conor Clifford.[5] She continued to play for Ireland's under-15s during 2013–14, while attending St. Michael's Secondary School in Finglas.[12]
With the Republic of Ireland women's national under-17 football team, Kavanagh competed at the 2016 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship qualification mini tournament in Turkey,[13] then the elite round in France.[14] She was promoted to the Republic of Ireland women's national under-19 football team for a match against Belgium in September 2016, and scored a penalty kick in Ireland's 2–1 defeat.[15]
With the under-19s Kavanagh competed in the 2017 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship qualification series in North Macedonia and in the elite round at Markets Field, Limerick.[16] By the time of the following year's elite round at Turners Cross, Cork, Kavanagh remained part of the team.[17] She concluded her under-19 national team career with three goals in 17 appearances.[18]
In August 2016 Ireland coach Susan Ronan named Kavanagh in a young and predominantly home-based senior squad for a training camp in Wales.[19][20] She won her first senior cap in the second of two scheduled friendly matches against the Welsh hosts, as an 83rd-minute substitute for Jetta Berrill in Ireland's 2–1 win.[21][22]
Kavanagh made another substitute appearance in a 2–1 home friendly win over the Basque Country on 25 November 2016, coming in for Áine O'Gorman after 85 minutes.[23] She continued to be selected by Ronan's successor Colin Bell, being called up for two friendlies against Iceland and Scotland ahead of the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying series.[24] In August 2019 Kavanagh was an unused substitute in a 3–0 friendly defeat by the United States at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.[25]
Kavanagh's older brother Cian is also a soccer player.[4] An attacking midfielder like his sister, Cian Kavanagh developed at St. Kevin's Boys and has played in the League of Ireland for Shamrock Rovers, Shelbourne, UCD, Drogheda United and Wexford.[26]
Alex and Cian's father George Kavanagh played League of Ireland football for St. Pats, Bray Wanderers and Thurles Town.[5]
Shelbourne F.C. (women) – current squad | |
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