SPORT: Shelbourne’s super siblings

IN A recent pre-season friendly, Shelbourne FC midfielder Cian Kavanagh scored in their 2-1 victory over Galway United. In what must be an unusual first, that same evening in Castlebar, his sister Alex also scored as Shelbourne’s Women’s National League team beat Castlebar Celtic 12-1. 

Alex Kavanagh joined Shelbourne LFC in 2011 at age 11. At that time she played for both Home Farm Boys and Shelbourne Girls. Her team won the U-12 All-Ireland title with Shelbourne that year and she committed fully to the club the following season.  

Her U-13 team won the U-14 All-Ireland Cup that year – and again the following year playing at U-14 level. This very successful team did it again the following year, winning the U-16 National Cup at U-15. Alex became the youngest player to tog out for the International team when she earned her first cap, aged 12, in an U-15 friendly against England at the opening of George’s Park in the UK. The attacking midfielder was called up to the Women’s National League team in January this year and scored on her debut away to Castlebar on February 20. 

Her brother Cian is a young midfielder who joined Shamrock Rovers U-19s from St Kevin’s Boys during the summer of 2013. He has now joined Shelbourne on loan for the 2016 season and will be hopeful of getting regular first team football. 

Shelbourne manager, Kevin Doherty, told us: “Cian has done well for us in pre-season and he’s going to be an important part of our plans for the coming season. He’s an exciting player and I was delighted to be able to bring him. 

“We’ve strengthened our squad considerably and that will keep all the players on their toes but it looks like Cian will also have his sister pushing him! When you think that Alex has only just turned 16 and is already playing senior football, you get an idea of just how much potential she has.”