Full name Marie Claire Curtin Years Team Height 1.69 m | Role Footballer Place of birth Limerick, Ireland Name Marie Curtin | |
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Date of birth (1985-08-07) 7 August 1985 (age 30) | ||
Playing position | ||
Marie Claire Curtin (born 7 August 1985) is an Irish footballer who plays for the Republic of Ireland national team and Women's National League club Galway W.F.C.. She previously played for Norwegian 1. divisjon club Fortuna Ålesund. Curtin can play in defence or attack.
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Marie curtin
Club career
Curtin began her football career with Lifford Ladies FC, and played for UCD in the 2003–04 UEFA Women's Cup. In 2004 Curtin moved to Hofstra University on a soccer scholarship. While in America Curtin also turned out for the WPSL club Long Island Fury. Here she was converted to a striker, scoring a hat-trick on her debut.
On returning to Ireland, Curtin played gaelic football for Limerick and joined newly formed local soccer team Kilmallock United. In February 2011 Curtin joined FA WSL club Lincoln Ladies on trial. She signed for Cork Women's FC in late 2011, ahead of the new National Women's League.
Curtin signed for Norwegian team Fortuna Ålesund in April 2012. She was praised by her new coach following her debut, playing as a central defender in Ålesund's 2–2 draw with Åsane on the opening day of the league season. Ålesund were unable to agree terms with Curtin for the following campaign and she departed the club in May 2013.
Ahead of the 2014–15 Women's National League season Curtin signed for Galway W.F.C., managed by Don O'Riordan. In December 2014 she injured her knee while conceding a penalty kick, in what she described as "a dramatic sending-off incident".
International career
Curtin represented the Republic of Ireland at Under-16 and 18 level and was named Young Player of the Year at the 2002 FAI International Football Awards. She later became a regular pick in defence for the senior national team.
In 2007, while a student at Hofstra, Curtin played for Irish Universities at the 2007 Summer Universiade in Bangkok.
Personal life
During a break from soccer in 2013 and 2014, Curtin went into business with her dairy farmer dad Sean, launching a brand of chocolate milk called Temple Dairy.