FAI offer clarity around Farrelly injury confusion

The FAI have moved to clear up confusion around Sinead Farrelly's absence from the Republic of Ireland squad for the UEFA Nations League double-header against Northern Ireland and Hungary, after the mifielder played for Gotham FC in the NWSL on Saturday night.

Farrelly was a notable absentee from interim manager Eileen Gleeson's 25-player panel, which was released on Friday.

The 33-year-old, who was given a surprise first call-up by ex-boss Vera Pauw back in February, had a strong World Cup, featuring in all three group games against Australia, Canada and Nigeria.

Twenty-four hours after being left out of Gleeson's squad for the games against the North and Hungary, she came off the bench during her's club's 2-0 defeat of Washington Spirit, for whom Marissa Sheva was an unused substitute.

That, naturally, led to intrigue around Farrelly's Ireland absence, with the FAI clarifying that she has been advised not to make the long flight across the Atlantic due to a back issue.

"Ahead of selecting the Ireland Women's National Team squad for the opening games in the UEFA Nations League, the WNT medical staff were informed by NJ/NY Gotham that midfielder Sinead Farrelly was suffering with back spasms and that a long-haul flight to link up with the Ireland squad was not advisable," a spokesperson for the association said.

"As a result, Sinead was not included in the 25-player squad. The medical advice still stands that her existing injury would be further aggravated should she travel, so Sinead will not join the Ireland squad for this camp."

Ireland arrived in camp on Sunday to prepare for their inaugural Nations League campaign. They are in Group B1, League B, alongside Northern Ireland, the Hungarians and Albania.

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