Republic of Ireland Head Coach Colin Bell has named an 18-player squad ahead of the international friendly against Poland.
The squad travel to Ostroda to take on Poland in an international friendly on Tuesday 9th October, with kick-off at 5pm (6pm local time), reports FAI.
With the recent retirements of Aine O’Gorman and Karen Duggan, Bell has named a number of changes to the squad as he sets his sights on the start of the EURO 2021 qualifying campaign which begins in September 2019.
Shelbourne striker Emily Whelan receives her first call-up to the senior squad whilst Brighton defender Sophie Perry and London Bees midfielder Ruesha Littlejohn return to the squad. Midfielder Tyler Toland has been ruled out with an injury sustained in the final game of the qualifying campaign against Northern Ireland.
Cork City’s Zara Foley also receives a call-up after impressing in the recent U-17 friendly matches against the Czech Republic whilst Reading goalkeeper Grace Moloney keeps her place in the squad.
Brighton goalkeeper Marie Hourihan has recovered from injury as Ireland prepare for their final match of 2018. The squad are set to have a Dublin-based November training camp ahead of three friendly fixtures in 2019.
Ireland will travel to the Pinatar Arena in Murcia, Spain to face Belgium on 20 January and then return to Spain in February for a match against Wales in Marbella (date tbc), before visiting Italy on 9 April.
“It is going to be a really tough test against Poland. They’re a team who’ve shown signs of progress in recent years and finished third in their qualifying campaign,” said Bell.
“Since the end of the qualifying campaign, we’ve had Aine O’Gorman and Karen Duggan retire so it’s important we look to bring through the next generation of talent. The likes of Heather Payne, Isibeal Atkinson and Amy Boyle-Carr will be with the Women’s Under-19 squad this year as they look to qualify for the European Championships next summer.”
Republic of Ireland squad v Poland
Goalkeepers: Marie Hourihan (Brighton & Hove Albion), Grace Moloney (Reading)
Defenders: Harriet Scott (Birmingham City), Sophie Perry (Brighton & Hove Albion), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Diane Caldwell (SC Sand), Louise Quinn (Arsenal), Claire O’Riordan (MSV Duisburg).
Midfielders: Denise O’Sullivan (NC Courage), Aislinn Meaney (Galway), Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Ruesha Littlejohn (London Bees), Zara Foley (Cork City), Jessica Ziu (Shelbourne).
Forwards: Leanne Kiernan (West Ham United), Rianna Jarrett (Wexford), Amber Barrett (Peamount United), Emily Whelan (Shelbourne).
