Head coach Carla Ward names her Ireland Women squad for their final two World Cup Group Stage qualifying fixtures against the Netherlands and France.
Should Ireland secure top spot in the group across these two fixtures, they will bypass the play-off system and secure an automatic berth at the 2027 Brazil World Cup, reports fai.ie.
The group campaign concludes with a massive home fixture as Ireland head to Cork to face the Netherlands at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Friday 5 June. The squad will then travel to Grenoble to take on France at the Stade des Alpes on Tuesday 9 June.
Carla Ward has selected an expanded 25-player squad to manage personnel for the opening fixture. Both Denise O’Sullivan and Emily Murphy are suspended for the home match against the Netherlands but will remain with the squad for the duration of the camp and will be available for selection for the final game against France.
The squad is bolstered by the return of Jessie Stapleton, who is recalled following her recovery from injury, alongside Crystal Palace defender Hayley Nolan. Shelbourne midfielder Aoibheann Clancy also retains her place in the senior setup following a string of impressive performances in the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division.
Ireland Squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic), Grace Moloney (Sunderland).
Defenders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton), Hayley Nolan (Crystal Palace), Aoife Mannion (Newcastle United), Jessie Stapleton (West Ham), Chloe Mustaki (Nottingham Forest).
Midfielders: Denise O’Sullivan (Liverpool)*, Tyler Toland (Durham), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Marissa Sheva (Sunderland), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Ruesha Littlejohn (Crystal Palace), Jamie Finn (Sunderland), Aoibheann Clancy (Shelbourne), Jess Ziu (West Ham).
Attackers: Saoirse Noonan (Celtic), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Emily Murphy (Newcastle United)*, Kyra Carusa (Kansas City Current – loan), Amber Barrett (Strasbourg).
*Suspended for Netherlands fixture
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