CARLOW hockey club player Brona Dowling has broken new ground in recent weeks by becoming the first player from the club to line out for Ireland.

The Kilkee girl was part of the Ireland U16 team who took part in the prestigious six nations tournament in Bremen, Germany in July.

Brona has come up through the ranks at Carlow since the age of seven and has developed into a talented midfielder. The selection process for the Irish team began as far back as last November where over 80 girls attended trials. The final panel was picked in June with Brona making the grade.

Carlow hockey club’s Brona Dowling lined out for the Ireland U16 team last month

Her first appearances for Ireland were in a three-match series against Scotland in Belfast before the trip to Germany to take on hockey powerhouses Spain, England, Belgium, Holland and Germany.

Whilc the Irish didn’t secure a win in the tournament they more than held their own with Brona growing in stature with each game.

The international selection for the 16-year-old fifth year student at Ursuline, Thurles is all the more noteworthy when you consider that Carlow hockey club does not have its own astroturf pitch. The club trains on the IT Carlow soccer astroturf pitches and plays their home games in Kilkenny.

However, that hasn’t stopped the club developing its playing numbers over the poast decade.

Over 180 young players now train at the IT on Saturday mornings with teams from U8 up to U16 representing the club.

No doubt Brona’s achievements will prove an inspiration to the young players who are coming through the ranks at the Carlow club.