Eileen Gleeson names WNT squad for Italy and Wales friendlies

Women's National Team manager Eileen Gleeson has finalised her squad for the upcoming friendlies against Italy and Wales.

The first games of see the Girls in Green take on Italy in Florence on Friday week before returning to Dublin to host Wales in Tallaght Stadium the following Tuesday.

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 two games will serve as part of the preparation for the upcoming Euro 2025 Qualifiers, which kick off in April following the Draw on 5 March.

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.

Ireland squad - 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),