Title-winning duo Furlong and Hutchinson join Kilkenny from Wexford

Kilkenny United have confirmed their first signings of the summer with the arrival of Tamara Furlong and Rachel Hutchinson from Wexford Youths.

 

Both players have struggled for consistent gametime in a Youths side whose form sees them sit atop the Women's National League table and have made the short trip across south Leinster.

 

Hutchinson and Furlong are new manager Casey McQuillan's fifth and sixth signings since taking over late last month and come hot on the heels of their first ever league win, over Galway three weeks ago.

 

Erica Byrne, Karley Leavy, Nadine Ryan and Vanessa Ogbonna also signed up this summer, although Ryan and Ogbonna only took up short-term deals before returning to the United States.

 

21-year-old goalkeeper Furlong made her Youths debut in 2013 and helped the club to two league titles and was first-choice goalkeeper during the league-winning 2015-16 season.

 



She appeared twice in the group stage of the Women's Champions League in 2016, having been back-up to Mary Rose Kelly the previous year.

 

The form of Sophie Lenehan has limited the Enniscorthy native to substitute and cup appearances over the past 18 months and she's taken the opportunity to join an improving Kilkenny side.

 

22-year-old defender Hutchinson was part of the Youths squad for the inaugural Women's National League in 2011 and remained with the club for the following six seasons.

 



She made her Champions League debut as a half-time substitute for Wexford in a 5-1 win over Cardiff Met in 2015 and won two titles with Youths.