Méabh De Búrca: Ireland U-23 grade has been a long time coming

A Republic of Ireland Under-23 grade would be a very long time coming if it does come to pass, according to former Girls in Green international Méabh De Búrca.

The issue has returned to prominence in recent days as the Women's FAI Cup final showpiece dominated the weekend and the first leg of Ireland's Euro 2025 play-off tie against Georgia looms on Friday.

Last week's squad announcement for the Georgia games saw Ireland boss Eileen Gleeson emphatically refute suggestions from outgoing Athlone Town head coach Ciaran Kilduff that players in the domestic league have not been given an opportunity to stake a claim for a senior call-up.

With home-based training sessions no longer in place since the end of Vera Pauw's tenure as Irish head coach, there have been concerns about the gap that exists for players that emerge from the U-19 grade with a view to pressing a claim for senior international consideration.

Veteran striker Julie-Ann Russell, who is one of three domestic-based players named in the Ireland squad for this month alongside 18-year-old Athlone goalkeeper Katie Keane, backed calls for the introduction of an Under-23 grade and suggested that such an eventuality is "imminent".

Former international De Búrca has echoed that view but also pointed out that conversations around an age grade team to plug the gap is far from new and was a talking point during her own playing career.

"It does definitely need to be brought in imminently but to be honest we've been talking about this for 15 years," she told the RTÉ Soccer Podcast.

"This is not a new concept, the Under-23s. Many other national teams around the world have it and it sounds like it's just repetitive to be honest.

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