Vera Pauw has named three uncapped players in her squad to that will travel to Spain to take part in a training camp as well as a friendly match with China PR. Ireland will also face Germany behind closed doors.
Amongst the new faces in the squad are Manchester United centre back Aoife Mannion and attacker, Marissa Sheva of Washington Spirit and Durham WFC goalkeeper Naoisha McAloon, With a number of injuries and a World Cup in Australia on the horizon, Vera Pauw has added fresh faces into the squad.
Birmingham-born Mannion represented England at underage level and was previously part of two senior squads back in 2019 but never featured. Mannion has two Irish parents and was a classmate of a England football international Jack Grealish’s at St Peter’s School - sitting next to eachother in class. Mannion played underage Gaelic football in Birmingham for Sean McDermott's Ladies and has previously spent time at at Birmingham City, Aston Villa and Man City.
In March of last year, Mannion tore her ACL for the second time in her career. Her original injury came in October 2019 in her Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid shortly after arriving at Manchester City. Only to re-injure the same right knee in the League Cup clash against Chelsea2 27 months later. After a gruelling eight months of rehabilitation, she is back in action for the United since January.
@verapauw listen to the Shsshh a few seconds in when we asked in December! @FAIWomen @shebahn @HerSportDotIE @FAIreland @GleesonEileen still makes us laugh pic.twitter.com/siVV7zkT1I
— The Green Machíne (@GM_Pod) February 10, 2023
There is also a place in the squad for Washington based winger Marissa Sheva, who has connections with Tyrone (Grandfather) and Donegal (Grandmother). Known for her stamina and pace having been part of the Penn State’s track team, Sheva played football in Spain for Deportivo Alavés before moving back to the US to play in the National Women's Soccer League for the Utah Royals and now Washington Spirits. Sheva's PB in the 1500m is f 4:25.06 and 2:14.12 in the 800m which would put her amongst the top club level runners in Ireland.
Ireland head to Marbella for a training camp for two games against China, the second an official fixture at the Estadio Nuevo Mirador on Wednesday, February 22 (2pm Irish time).
Injuries have ruled out Niamh Fahey, Savannah McCarthy, Chloe Mustaki, Ellen Molloy, Jess Ziu, Aoife Colvill and Leanne Kiernan. Ruesha Littlejohn, Megan Connolly ,Heather Payne and Claire Walsh return to the squad.
Supporters will get to cheer on the Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team before they depart for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 with a game against France scheduled for Thursday, July 6 in Tallaght Stadium.
Vera Pauw’s team will host a team currently at No 5 in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings and who reached the semi-finals of UEFA Women’s EURO 2022. They will also compete at this summer’s World Cup.
The game will be included in a first ever WNT Season Ticket package, which will take in the UEFA Women’s Nations League fixtures that are scheduled for later in the year.
WNT continue preparations for @FIFAWWC with International Friendly in Spain against China PR
🇨🇳 v 🇮🇪
🗓️ | Wednesday, February 22
⏰ | KO 14:00 (13:00 Irish Time)
📍 | Estadio Nuevo Mirador#CHNIRL | #COYGIG | #WeAreOne— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) January 19, 2023
Republic of Ireland WNT Squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Megan Walsh (Brighton & Hove Albion), Grace Moloney (Reading), Naoisha McAloon (Durham WFC) Defenders: Harriet Scott (Birmingham City), Diane Caldwell (Reading), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Hayley Nolan (London City Lionesses), Claire Walsh (Glasgow City), Megan Campbell (Liverpool), Áine O’Gorman (Shamrock Rovers), Aoife Mannion (Manchester United).
Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ruesha Littlejohn (Aston Villa), Jamie Finn (Birmingham City), Lily Agg (London City Lionesses), Ciara Grant (Hearts), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Isibeal Atkinson (West Ham United).
Forwards: Amber Barrett (Potsdam Turbine), Heather Payne (Florida State University), Kyra Carusa (London City Lionesses), Abbie Larkin (Shamrock Rovers), Marissa Sheva (Washington Spirit).
