The Irish face Slovakia on Monday April 10th, with kick-off at 2pm at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin, as Bell looks to build on their impressive Cyprus Cup campaign, repoirts fai.ie.
Bell’s side secured fourth spot in the tournament, their highest-ever finish, with wins over Czech Republic and Wales, a draw to Hungary before eventually losing to Korea DPR in the third/fourth-placed match.
With a number of the younger players, Roma McLaughlin, Amanda McQuillan and Leanne Kiernan, set to feature for the U-19s in the UEFA Elite Round phase, Bell has selected an experienced squad for the friendly.
Glasgow City defender Keeva Keenan has been called up for the first time since June 2016 and Shelbourne stopper Niamh Reid-Burke also returns to the squad.
Shelbourne forward Siobhan Killeen has also been called into the squad as well as Manchester City midfielder Megan Campbell.
Head Coach Colin Bell said: “I’m really looking forward to my first home game with Ireland. It’s really important that we look to recapture the form we had in the Cyprus Cup.
“We’ll also have more time to train in camp which will be great for me to look at our shape and style of play in more detail, and also get to know the players even more.
“I’ve brought in Keeva Keenan who has performed well in Scotland this season and has been on my radar so it will be great to get to work with her. It’s also great to have Julie-Ann available after missing the Cyprus Cup and I’m looking forward to working with her.
“The young players will all stay with the U19s and hopefully help them qualify for the European Championships through the Elite stage. I’ll be going out with the U19s myself before I’m in camp with the senior team and I’m looking forward to getting to know them as well.”
Republic of Ireland squad v Slovakia
Goalkeepers: Emma Byrne (Brighton and Hove Albion Women), Marie Hourihan (Manchester City Women), Niamh Reid-Burke (Shelbourne Ladies)
Defenders: Sophie Perry (Brighton and Hove Albion Women), Diane Caldwell (SC Sand), Louise Quinn (Notts County Ladies), Harriet Scott (Reading Women), Savannah McCarthy (Glasgow City), Jetta Berrill (UCD Waves), Keeva Keenan (Glasgow City)
Midfielders: Megan Campbell (Manchester City Women), Karen Duggan (UCD Waves), Denise O’Sullivan (Houston Dash), Megan Connolly (Florida State Seminoles), Ruesha Littlejohn (Celtic FC Women), Stephanie Roche (Sunderland Ladies)
Attackers: Julie-Ann Russell (UCD Waves), Aine O’Gorman (UCD Waves), Katie McCabe (Arsenal Ladies), Claire O’Riordan (Wexford Youths), Siobhan Killeen (Shelbourne Ladies), Clare Shine (Cork City WFC)
