'It's misrepresentative' - Eileen Gleeson hits back at Ciaran Kilduff remarks

Republic of Ireland head coach Eileen Gleeson has hit back at suggestions she is ignoring SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division players, claiming such accusations are "misrepresentative".

Athlone Town boss Ciaran Kilduff aired his view midweek that players in the domestic league are not being given an opportunity to stake a claim for a senior call-up. The FAI's decision to discontinue home-based training sessions and the absence of a long-mooted Under-23s team means there's a void between the Ireland Under-19s setup and the seniors.

Gleeson has included Athlone goalkeeper Katie Keane and Cork City midfielder Eva Mangan in her squad for the upcoming Euro 2025 play-off semi-final; on Thursday, she insisted Keane's inclusion was not a response to Kilduff's remarks.

"Absolutely not," said Gleeson. "We watch players every single week in the League of Ireland. And I, over 30 years, have been the biggest advocate of the League of Ireland and its inception at National League and promoting League of Ireland players being integrated with international pathways.

"So statements that we don't watch players are completely inaccurate. In terms of Katie, my assistant Emma (Byrne) has actually attended Athlone's training sessions to watch Katie.

"We've had Katie in the pre-mini camp in July. So we're watching these players constantly. Winning League of Irelands doesn't [mean] an immediate call-up to senior international football. It's a very tough level, it's elite level.

"League of Ireland players are in direct competition with players who are in professional environments and full-time environments. So the primary message from that is we're constantly watching players."

Kilduff (above) said that he had never received a phone call from