Tyler Toland has etched her name into the Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team’s history books.
The 16-year-old St Johnston woman made her senior international debut last night in the 2-0 win over Northern Ireland at Mourneview Park in Lurgan.
Picture: Tyler Toland after making her Republic of Ireland senior debut, with Donegal Daily’s Chris McNulty
The Deele College student was the Irish Under-16 Player of the Year last year and was called up to the senior squad for last night’s World Cup qualifier.
Toland came on as a substitute for Megan Campbell.
At just 16 years and 43 days old, Toland is the youngest Irish senior women’s international on record.
Legendary Irish goalkeeper Emma Byrne, who retired last month after a record 125 appearances for her country, was 16 years and 292 days when she made her debut in a 1-0 loss to Belgium on March 31, 1996.
Shelbourne’s Aine O’Gorman, who came off injured last night after 20 minutes, was also in her 17th year when she made her senior bow in 2006.
O’Gorman made her debut in a 4-0 defeat to Denmark in the Algarve Cup, when she was 16 years and 307 days.
Toland’s debut was a year and a day from Roma McLaughlin made her Irish senior debut on September 20, 2016, in a 1-0 loss to Portugal at Tallaght Stadium. The Greencastle woman was 18 years and 199 days old at the time.
Noelle Murray was just a couple of months into her 18th year when she made her debut in a 1-1 draw with Iceland at the 2007 Algarve Cup, aged 17 years and 75 days at the time.
But Toland has trumped them all – and this weekend, she heads for Sarajevo with the Irish Under-17s.
