Irish cricketer and footballer
Mary Veronica Waldron (born 5 May 1984) is an Irish association football player and cricketer who has represented both the Republic of Ireland women's national football team and the Ireland women's cricket team . She has also stood as an umpire in cricket matches.[ 1]
Club career
Waldron was nominated for the FAI Under-18 Women Player of the Year in 2001[ 2] and 2002,[ 3] while playing for St James's Gate . She was awarded a sport scholarship to University College Dublin in 2003.[ 4] In the 2004 FAI Women's Cup final at Lansdowne Road , Waldron played in UCD 's 4–1 win over Dundalk City .[ 5]
In July 2004 Waldron made her UEFA Women's Cup debut for UCD; in a 5–0 defeat to Montpellier HSC .[ 6]
Waldron hit an injury–time winner from the penalty spot, as St Francis beat Peamount United 2–1 in the final of the 2008 FAI Women's Cup at Richmond Park .[ 7] She also played in 2009 as St Francis beat St Catherine's 1–0 to retain the Cup.[ 8] In the 2011 final Waldron headed the opening goal in St Catherine's 3–1 win over Wilton United at Turners Cross .[ 9]
International career
Waldron captained Ireland at Under-19 level.[ 10] Coach Noel King gave her an appearance in Ireland's senior team in a 2–1 friendly win over Faroe Islands in Klaksvík on 12 October 2004.[ 11] In August 2011 she reappeared for the senior team, as an 86th-minute substitute for Shannon Smyth in a 1–0 home friendly defeat to Switzerland .[ 12]
Waldron also represented Irish Universities at the World University Games , playing in the 2009 tournament in Belgrade .[ 10]
Cricket
In July 2010 Waldron made her One Day International debut for Ireland women's cricket team , against New Zealand at Kibworth Cricket Club New Ground . She is a wicket-keeper .[ 13] She was a member of Ireland's squad for the 2018 ICC Women's World Twenty20 Qualifier tournament.[ 14] In October 2018, she was named in Ireland's squad for the 2018 ICC Women's World Twenty20 tournament in the West Indies.[ 15] [ 16]
In August 2019, she was named in Ireland's squad for the 2019 ICC Women's World Twenty20 Qualifier tournament in Scotland.[ 17] In July 2020, she was awarded a part-time professional contract by Cricket Ireland for the following year.[ 18] In November 2021, she was named in Ireland's team for the 2021 Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament in Zimbabwe.[ 19]
On 27 July 2023, Waldron announced her retirement from international cricket.[ 20] [ 21] [ 22] [ 23]
Umpiring
Waldron is also pursuing a career as a cricket umpire .[ 24] [ 25] In October 2016, she became the first woman for 38 years to stand as an umpire in a men's Grade cricket match in South Australia.[ 26] In August 2018, she became the first Irish woman to umpire in a men's List A fixture.[ 27] In May 2019, the International Cricket Council named her as one of the eight women on the ICC Development Panel of Umpires.[ 28] [ 29] On 15 June 2019, she stood in her first Twenty20 International (T20I) match, between Italy and Norway, in the Regional Finals of the 2018–19 ICC T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier tournament.[ 30] In September–October 2019, she stood in Australian women's domestic league, the Women's Big Bash League .[ 31]
Hockey
Waldron has also played Hockey for Glenanne where her teammates included Nicola Daly and she was coached by Nikki Symmons .[ 32] [ 33] [ 34]
See also
References
External links