Ireland and Northern Ireland Squads announced for UEFA Nations League opening games

Ireland and Northern Ireland Squads announced for UEFA Nations League opening games
Grace Fisher
Grace Fisher

Interim Head Coach Eileen Gleeson, who takes the role after Vera Pauw's controversial exit, has selected her 25-player Ireland WNT squad for the opening games of the inaugural UEFA Nations League.

New Northern Ireland manager Tanya Oxtoby has also named a 23-strong squad.

Ireland will host Northern Ireland on Saturday, September 23 in Aviva Stadium to kick off their Group B1 opener in League B – which has already sold over 30,000 tickets.

Directly after that first game the Ireland squad will travel to Budapest to take on Hungary on Tuesday, September 26 in the Hidegkuti Nándor Stadium.

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There are recalls to the squad for defenders Savannah McCarthy, Hayley Nolan and Éabha O’Mahony, midfielder Tyler Toland and forwards Saoirse Noonan and Emily Whelan.

Injuries rule out Niamh Fahey, Megan Campbell, Aoife Mannion, Jessie Stapleton, Claire Walsh, Tara O’Hanlon, Roma McLaughlin, Jess Ziu, Sinead Farrelly and Leanne Kiernan.

Both Áine O'Gorman and Harriet Scott have retired from international football and will be honoured ahead of the Northern Ireland game.

The squad links up on Monday, September 18 to begin preparations for the new campaign with training taking place at the FAI National Training Centre.

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Meanwhile there are only three changes from the Northern Ireland squad that played in July's friendlies with Scotland and Ireland: Laura Rafferty and Ellie Mason have been called up as Kirsty McGuinness returns from injury, while Kelsie Burrows, Fi Morgan, and Danielle Maxwell are absent.

Ireland Squad:

Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (London City Lionesses), Megan Walsh (West Ham United)

Defenders: Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Diane Caldwell (FC Zurich), Claire O’Riordan (Standard Liege), Savannah McCarthy (Shamrock Rovers), Éabha O’Mahony (University of Texas), Hayley Nolan (Crystal Palace), Chloe Mustaki (Bristol City)

Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Ruesha Littlejohn (London City Lionesses), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Jamie Finn (Birmingham City), Megan Connolly (Bristol City), Lily Agg (Birmingham City), Heather Payne (Everton), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Marissa Sheva (Washington Spirit)

Forwards: Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Abbie Larkin (Glasgow City), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Saoirse Noonan (Durham WFC), Emily Whelan (Glasgow City)

 

Northern Ireland squad:

Goalkeepers: Rachael Norney (Cliftonville), Shannon Turner (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Lilie Woods (Mid Ulster)

Defenders: Rebecca Holloway (Racing Louisville, USA), Abbie Magee (Cliftonville), Ellie Mason (Birmingham City), Sarah McFadden (Durham), Rebecca McKenna (Charlton Athletic), Laura Rafferty (Southampton), Demi Vance (Glentoran)

Midfielders: Joely Andrews (Glentoran), Megan Bell (Rangers), Nadene Caldwell (Glentoran), Marissa Callaghan (Cliftonville), Rachel Furness (Bristol City), Caragh Hamilton (Lewes), Chloe McCarron (Glentoran)

Forwards: Kerry Beattie (Glentoran), Simone Magill (Aston Villa), Caitlin McGuinness (Cliftonville), Kirsty McGuinness (Cliftonville), Lauren Wade (Reading), Emily Wilson (Glentoran)

UEFA Nations League
Republic of Ireland v Northern Ireland
Saturday, September 23
Aviva Stadium
KO 13:00
LIVE on RTÉ2

UEFA Nations League
Hungary v Republic of Ireland
Tuesday, September 26
Hidegkuti Nándor Stadium, Budapest
KO 18:30 (19:30 local time)
LIVE on RTÉ2

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