Two Powys football stars were pitted against each other as Wales hosted Northern Ireland in a Women’s European qualifier match in Newport on Tuesday.

Carrie Jones, from Newtown, who made her debut senior appearance for Wales last week, aged 15, was on the bench, and Crystal Palace captain Freya Holdaway, from Llandrindod Wells, started for Northern Ireland as the match ended 2-2.

Speaking after the match, on the eve of her 16th birthday, Jones said: “It’s a pleasure to represent my country at my age, and with such a great group of girls, it’s unreal.”

“The girls and the the staff were really welcoming to me as a new member.”

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Jones said that she gets support from teammates who also joined the squad at a young age.

With her first international debut having taken place in the Faroe Islands, which Wales won 6-0, Jones’ friends and family were unable to make the journey over.

However with this game taking place on Welsh soil, at Newport’s Rodney Parade, Jones was able to see her friends and family are the game. “It was really nice to see,” she said.

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Jones was tipped by former Welsh international Gwennan Harries as becoming one of “Wales’ best players”.

Jones said that these comments are both “intimidating and exciting”.

“It just makes me want to work hard and achieve. Everyone else believes in me.”

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Holdaway made some strong tackles in the first half of the game, but was injured early into the second half.

The 30-year-old defender qualifies for Ireland through her grandfather.

Speaking to the County Times after the match, she said that she wasn’t expecting the fixture between her side of Northern Ireland and her home country on Wales.

“No, I didn’t see it coming,” she said. “It’s a funny qualifying group group to be placed in.”

County Times:

Holdaway said that when she was younger, growing up in Powys, that she would be playing with boys, until she went to play for Newtown Ladies. Many women’s teams in Powys have since ceased but Holdaway hopes with the sport growing, especially since this summer’s World Cup, that there will be more opportunities for girls in Mid Wales.

Speaking of Jones, Holdaway said that it’s a “bit of a shame” that she’s able to play for her country and not for her club, Cardiff City.

“It’s just a different level,” she said.

“I’m sure she’ll become a powerhouse in Welsh football. I wish her all the best for the future, and I hope she gets on the pitch when we play them in Northern Ireland.”