Carla Ward selects her first Ireland Women’s squad

Carla Ward has selected her first Ireland squad since being appointed head coach, ahead of the 2025 UEFA Nations League campaign.

Ireland will host Türkiye on Friday 21 February at Tallaght Stadium, before travelling to Koper to face Slovenia on Tuesday 25 February in their opening two games in Group 2 in League B.

Ward was unable to call on the quintet of Louise Quinn, Tara O’Hanlon, Lily Agg, Jamie Finn and Jess Ziu, while Niamh Fahey, Diane Caldwell and Julie-Ann Russell recently retired from international football.

Charlton Athletic midfielder Melisa Filis, who qualifies through her Mayo-born mother, has been called up for the first time after receiving FIFA international clearance.

There will be some new faces amongst the coaching staff with Alan Mahon (Assistant Head Coach) and Amber Whiteley (Assistant Coach) joining Emma Byrne (Goalkeeping Coach) and Ivi Casagrande (Performance Coach) in supporting Ward.

Over 7,000 tickets have already been snapped up for the Türkiye game via www.fai.ie/tickets.

Both matches are live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.

Ireland WNT Squad

Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic), Grace Moloney (Unattached)

Defenders: Heather Payne (Everton), Jessie Stapleton (Sunderland – on loan from West Ham United), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Aoife Mannion (Manchester United), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), Megan Campbell (London City Lionesses), Katie McCabe (Arsenal)

Midfielders: Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Ruesha Littlejohn (Unattached), Marissa Sheva (Unattached), Melisa Filis (Charlton Athletic)

Forwards: Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Izzy Atkinson (Crystal Palace), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Emily Murphy (Newcastle United)

Northern Ireland Women’s squad for first UEFA Women’s Nations League ties