Scale of Irish challenge leaves no room for development

Eileen Gleeson has included a couple of young, home-based players in most of her Republic of Ireland squads since taking the reins last September, but the terrain her team are about to enter is no place for rookies.

The Euro 2025 qualification phase begins with a trip to a brilliant France side next week before a blockbuster Aviva Stadium showdown against England - also jam-packed with elite talent - four days later.

Then in late May/early June, there's a double-header with Sweden to look forward to.

All three of Ireland's opponents are ranked inside the world's top five; all three were in the semi-finals of the last Covid-delayed European Championships in 2022, which England went on to win.

The draw gods did not smile kindly on Ireland when they were plucked from the pot in Nyon, but it's not all doom and gloom.

A successful UEFA Nations League saw Ireland gain promotion to League A for Euros qualification - rarefied air that offers the safety net of a guaranteed spot in the play-off semi-finals even if they finish bottom of the group.

Gleeson bristles at the mention of that fact. She's backing her players to defy their status as rank outsiders and genuinely trouble the big guns.

Still, the head coach is rooted in reality. And her squad selection shows evidence Ireland will take a pragmatic approach to the qualifiers, leaning on top-level experience and defensive resilience.

Niamh Fahey is included in the squad despite the fact the centre-half has a calf injury. The hope is that Fahey will recover in time to feature in at least one of the matches. She's simply too important to rule out prematurely.

Meanwhile highly-rated Aston Villa defender Anna Patten (above) links up with Ireland for the first time as she waits on her