Donegal’s Amber Barrett and Ciara Grant have both been included in the Republic of Ireland senior women’s soccer squad for next week’s decisive World Cup qualifiers against Finland and Slovakia.
Barrett played in Ireland’s 9-0 win against Georgia and completed a move during the summer to leading German club FFC Turbine Potsdam from Koln.
Grant plays her club football with Hearts in the women’s Scottish Premier League.
Ireland will host Finland in Tallaght Stadium on Thursday, September 1st in what is expected to be a record crowd after tickets for the game sold out in just 30 minutes.
A flight to Bratislava will then follow a few days later as Ireland take on Slovakia on Tuesday, September 6th in their final qualifying game in Group A.
Ireland are trying to secure a play-off spot for the World Cup finals, which will take place next year in Australia and New Zealand.
Sweden have already qualified directly for the finals as Group A winners.
The only points they dropped were against Ireland in a 1-1 draw earlier this year.
Group A – as it stands
| TEAM | PLD | W | D | L | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden (Qualified) | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 19 |
| Ireland | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 |
| Finland | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| Slovakia | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Georgia | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
Friday’s squad also includes Birmingham City Lucy Quinn, who qualifies to play for the Republic through her Sligo grandparents.
Two other local players, Sligo Rovers striker Emma Doherty and Athlone Town’s Muireann Devaney were recently invited to a training camp with the senior women’s squad but they are not part of the 28-strong selection for next week’s qualifiers.
Republic of Ireland squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (Reading), Megan Walsh (Brighton & Hove Albion), Eve Badana (DLR Waves)
Defenders: Harriet Scott (Birmingham City), Claire O’Riordan (Celtic), Diane Caldwell (Reading), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Hayley Nolan (London City Lionesses), Chloe Mustaki (Bristol City), Megan Campbell (Liverpool), Áine O’Gorman (Peamount United)
Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ruesha Littlejohn (Aston Villa), Jamie Finn (Birmingham City), Ciara Grant (Hearts), Lily Agg (London City Lionesses), Ellen Molloy (Wexford Youths), Jess Ziu (West Ham United), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City)
Forwards: Heather Payne (Florida State University), Amber Barrett (FFC Turbine Potsdam), Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Abbie Larkin (Shelbourne), Saoirse Noonan (Durham WFC).
