Una Harkin

Una Matilda Harkin (born 20 January 1983) is an Irish Gaelic and association football player. In Gaelic football, she is known for her time as a Derry player, reaching the 2008 All-Ireland Junior Ladies' Football Championship final with them, and in soccer for her career with Keflavík and Northern Ireland.

Una Harkin
Personal information
Full name Una Matilda Harkin
Date of birth (1983-01-02) 2 January 1983
Place of birth Derry, Northern Ireland
Playing position(s) Centre-Back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007 Keflavík 9 (2)
National team‡
2006– Northern Ireland
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14:05, 6 April 2012 (UTC)

Gaelic football

In August 2008 Harkin emigrated to Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to take up a teaching position at Sharjah English School. She flew back the following month to play for Derry in their All-Ireland Junior Ladies' Football Championship final defeat to London at Croke Park.[1] Harkin had played her club football with Doire Colmcille CLG.[2]

Harkin had represented Ulster in inter–provincial competition during 2005. She won an Ulster All Star award.[3]

Association football

Harkin played club soccer with Institute, and in November 2006 was called into the Northern Ireland team for a UEFA Women's Euro 2009 pre–qualifier tournament in Turkey.[4] Harkin's debut for the Irish team came against the host nation.[5] In summer 2007 Harkin played semi–professional football in Iceland, scoring twice in a total of 12 games for Keflavík.[6]

Harkin was unfortunate to score an own goal as Northern Ireland crashed 4–0 to England at Gillingham in March 2007.[7] She was listed as a Drumahoe YMCA player, but also played some games for Crewe Alexandra Ladies in the English FA Women's Premier League Northern Division during 2006–07 and 2007–08.

In March 2008 Harkin overcame an ankle injury to play the return fixture against England at Mourneview Park, described as the biggest game of her career. National team coach Alfie Wylie said of Harkin: "Una has worked very hard and is fully committed to the cause. She is a powerful centre half who likes to go and win the ball and competes for everything; she is strong in the air and in the tackle and gives us a lot of strength in defence."[8] An improved defensive display saw Ireland restrict their opponents to a 2–0 win.[9]

When Harkin departed to Sharjah in 2008, she had been playing for the women's section of Linfield. She had already left by the time of their IFA Women's Challenge Cup final defeat to Glentoran Belfast United.[10]

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References
  1. "harkin's hectic route to croker". Irish Independent. 27 September 2008. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  2. "The Players". Doire Cholmcille Ladies. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  3. "Derry". Ladies Gaelic Football. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  4. Menary, Caroline (13 November 2006). "NI squad set for Turkish delight". IFA. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  5. "Derry's Una in fitness race". Derry Journal. 5 March 2008. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  6. "Una Matilda Harkin" (in Icelandic). KSI.is. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  7. Leighton, Tony (13 May 2007). "England Women 4–0 N Ireland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  8. "Harkin aims to take on the old enemy". Londonderry Sentinel. 4 March 2008. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  9. "Northern Ireland 0 – 2 England". Northern Ireland Women's Football Association. 6 March 2008. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  10. "Coca-Cola Women's Cup Final 2008". IFA. 18 September 2008. Retrieved 14 April 2012.


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