The Ireland Women’s National Team squad has been finalised for the International Friendlies against Italy and Cymru.
The first games of 2024 will see Head Coach Eileen Gleeson test her players away to Italy on Friday, February 24 in Florence before returning to Dublin to host Cyrmu in Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday, February 27.
The Italy fixture will be the first international game to be played in Viola Park since the state-of-the-art training complex – which is the home base for ACF Fiorentina – opened in October 2023.
The first Irish WNT football squad of 2024 is now out!
🤔Thoughts👇 https://t.co/29JyIUmyx7— Her Sport (@HerSportDotIE) February 15, 2024
The two games will serve as part of the preparation for the upcoming UEFA EURO 2025 Qualifiers, which kick off in April following the Draw on March 5.
The squad selection includes defenders Niamh Fahey and Aoife Mannion, midfielder Jess Ziu and forward Leanne Kiernan who all return following long-term injuries.
There is a first call-up for Wake Forest University forward Emily Murphy, who qualifies through her Dublin-born father, and had previously trained with the WNT squad in April 2021.
Tickets for the home game against Cymru are selling fast with the new North Stand in Tallaght Stadium now open.
☘️Eileen Gleeson’s 1st squad announcement as the permanent Ireland WNT manager is quite interesting to say the least!
Fahey returns for the first time since the World Cup, while Mannion, Ziu and Kiernan are all back from injury.
Also the new addition of Emily Murphy.
Thoughts? https://t.co/ojQ36DwFJq— Alanna Cunnane (@acunnane10) February 15, 2024
The breakdown of the first Irish WNT squad of 2024
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (London City Lionesses), Sophie Whitehouse (Lewes)
Defenders: Jessie Stapleton (Reading – on loan from West Ham United), Diane Caldwell (FC Zurich), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Caitlin Hayes (Celtic), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Aoife Mannion (Manchester United), Megan Campbell (London City Lionesses)
Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Lily Agg (Birmingham City), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Megan Connolly (Bristol City), Ruesha Littlejohn (London City Lionesses), Jamie Finn (Birmingham City), Heather Payne (Everton), Jess Ziu (West Ham United), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Izzy Atkinson (Crystal Palace)
Forwards: Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Emily Murphy (Wake Forest University)
FIXTURES
Friday, February 23 | Italy v Ireland, Viola Park, Florence, KO 18:15 (17:15 Irish Time), LIVE on RTÉ NewsNow
Tuesday, February 27 | Ireland v Cymru, Tallaght Stadium, KO 19:30, LIVE on RTÉ2
