The Republic of Ireland Women's National Team has been finalised ahead of their critical UEFA Women's European Championship qualifier away to Ukraine next Friday.
Ireland are bidding to qualify for the 2022 UEFA Women’s European Championships – should they do so, it will be the first time Ireland have ever qualified for a major tournament.
A draw or victory will at the very least secure a Play-Off spot with one game to spare. Victory will put Ireland in contention for automatic contention through the best placed runners-up spot.
To qualify for the Euro’s, the nine group winners and the three best runners-up (not counting results against the sixth-placed team) qualify directly for the final tournament, while the remaining six runners-up advance to the two-legged Play-Offs that will be played in April 2021.
Vera Pauw has released Isibeal Atkinson, Claire Walsh, Jessica Ziu, Stephanie Roche and Julie-Ann Russell from the squad however they ermain on standby ahead of the squad meeting up in Duisburg, Germany for a training camp ahead of the game.
There will also be a change in goal as Marie Hourihan misses out due to a dislocated finger. 16-year old Kilkenny sensation, Ellen Molloy, keeps her place in the squad as Pauw looks to harness one of Ireland’s biggest prospects in recent years.
Ireland overcame Ukraine 3-2 in Tallaght Stadium on October 8th, 2019 – this was Vera Pauws first game in charge. The irish team will be hoping to complete the double over a team who currently trail them by seven points.
The game will be broadcast live on RTE2, which will continue coverage of the team's qualifying campaign from when it first started in September 2019.
Republic of Ireland WNT Squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (West Ham United), Grace Moloney (Reading), Niamh Reid-Burke (Peamount United)
Defenders: Harriet Scott (Reading), Keeva Keenan (Celtic), Louise Quinn (Fiorentina), Diane Caldwell (SC Sand), Claire O'Riordan (MSV Duisburg), Aine O'Gorman (Peamount United)
Midfielders: Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Jamie Finn (Shelbourne), Denise O'Sullivan (Brighton & Hove Albion - on loan from NC Courage), Alli Murphy (London City Lionesses), Niamh Farrelly (Peamount United), Megan Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), Hayley Nolan (London City Lionesses), Ruesha Littlejohn (Leicester City), Ellen Molloy (Wexford Youths)
Forwards: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Heather Payne (Florida State University), Leanne Kiernan (West Ham United), Amber Barrett (FC Koln), Rianna Jarrett (Brighton & Hove Albion), Kyra Carusa (HB Hoge)
Ukraine v Republic of Ireland
UEFA 2022 Women’s European Championship Qualifying – Group I
Friday, October 23
Obolon Arena, Kiev
KO 17:00 (Irish Time)
LIVE on RTE2
#UKRIRL
