Getting the call up to the Junior Matilda’s squad for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup Indonesia 2024 came as a surprise, but Caoimhe Bray had an even bigger shock coming her way when the team landed.
“I thought I was just going over to get experience and see what was happening, but no, I ended up starting all three games,” she shared.
“I had a pretty decent camp I thought before the game started, so I thought maybe I might get a chance but thought they might just use the more experienced keepers first.
“I was so nervous but ended up going pretty well on my first game, that was probably my favourite one, I thought I played my best in that one.”
Unfortunately, they have not progressed to the world cup, having lost their games against China, defending champions Japan, and Thailand.
“It’s definitely a new type of play when you’re versing Asian teams, they’re very quick on the ball and pass touch and I think we were just a bit too slow that tournament,” Caoimhe told The Hunter River Times.
“I think that’s what got us because obviously we lost all three games, which wasn’t ideal, but I think we all had a really good time and I think making it that far was really good, because the next step was the World Cup like it’s obviously going to be super hard and challenging.”
With this year’s junior world cup campaign over there won’t be any more games for this squad, but Caoimhe will keep working to impress selectors to get places in future training camps and squads.
The choice between soccer and cricket is not getting any easier for Caoimhe Bray, with a recent award acknowledging her prowess in the latter.
Last week Cricket NSW named her as the 2024 Kookaburra Female Youth Player of the Year in their Country Cricket NSW annual awards.
This comes after she was named on the Australian Under 19s squad for a tournament in Sri Lanka, a spot she learned about just days after returning from Bali where she was representing Australia in the Junior Matilda’s.
