Ellen Molloy
Ellen Molloy (born 5 June 2004) is an Irish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Wexford Youths of the Women's National League (WNL) and the Republic of Ireland women's national team. Club career. In a decorated career in youth soccer, Molloy enjoyed success with Thomastown United and Presentation Secondary School, Kilkenny. She was already seen as an exceptional prospect when she transferred to reigning WNL champions Wexford Youths in July 2019. Molloy debuted for Wexford Youths on the first day of the delayed 2020 Women's National League season, scoring two goals and serving one  assist in a 4–1 home win over Bohemians. She won the WNL Player of the Month award for August 2020 and was praised by Wexford Youths coach Tom Elmes: "She has hit the ground running. She is versatile and can play in a number of different roles and she's done really well for us." In September 2020 Molloy scored twice as Wexford inflicted a first defeat of the season on champions Peamount United. She scored another two goals, including a "goal of the season contender" against Galway on 31 October 2020. At the WNL Awards in December 2020, Molloy  was named Young Player of the Season and named in the Team of the Season. Molloy's impressive form continued into the 2021 Women's National League season. She scored four times in a 7–1 win over Treaty United, then hit a "brilliant, long range" goal in a 5–0 win over Galway two weeks later. She was named Player of the Match in the 2021 FAI Women's Cup Final, as Wexford Youths defeated Shelbourne 3–1. She retained her place in the Team of the Season at the 2021 WNL Awards. International career. Youth. Molloy scored an acclaimed goal for  the Republic of Ireland women's national under-17 football team against Iceland in February 2020 which went viral on social media and brought her to wider attention. The strike was later voted International Goal of the Year at the FAI International Football Awards, making Molloy the first female winner. In September 2021 Molloy debuted for the Republic of Ireland women's national under-19 football team, scoring in her team's 2–1 friendly defeat by Norway in Portugal. Senior. Senior Republic of Ireland national team coach Vera Pauw called up Molloy for the first time on 28 August 2020, for the  UEFA Women's Euro 2022 qualifier against Germany on 19 September 2020. Molloy made her senior international debut in Ireland's next match, against Ukraine in Kyiv on 23 October 2020. She was an 86th-minute substitute for Harriet Scott in Ireland's 1–0 defeat.