Pauw Selects Provisional Ireland Women’s Squad

Ireland Women’s Manager Vera Pauw has selected a provisional squad of 31 players ahead of next month’s crucial European Championship qualifier with Germany.

The game will take place on December 1st at Tallaght Stadium with Ireland needing to match or better the result of Ukraine against Montenegro to secure a play-off berth.

Cork City striker Saorise Noonan has been rewarded for her fine form in the Women’s National League for Cork City this season with a call up to the provisional squad. Treaty United will be well aware of Noonan’s ability as she scored a brace to send the Limerick side out of the FAI Cup at the semi-final stage last weekend.

There are 9 home based players picked in the squad with Noonan joined by Emily Whelan, Jessica Ziu and Jamie Finn of Shelbourne, Aine O’Gorman, Niamh Reid-Burke, Niamh Farrelly and Claire Walsh of Peamount United and Ellen Molloy of Wexford.

It is a daunting task for Pauw and co against a very strong German side. Last month’s 1-0 defeat away to Ukraine was a bitter blow for the team’s hopes of qualification. The squad will be cut further in the last week of November in preparation for the game.

Goalkeepers: Marie Hourihan (SC Braga), Courtney Brosnan (West Ham United), Grace Moloney (Reading), Niamh Reid-Burke (Peamount United)

Defenders: Harriet Scott (Birmingham City), Keeva Keenan (Celtic), Claire Walsh (Peamount United), Louise Quinn (Fiorentina), Diane Caldwell (SC Sand), Claire O’Riordan (MSV Duisburg), Eabha O’Mahony (Cork City), Isibeal Atkinson (Shelbourne), Aine O’Gorman (Peamount United)

Midfielders: Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Jamie Finn (Shelbourne), Denise O’Sullivan (Brighton & Hove Albion, on loan from NC Courage), Alli Murphy (London City Lionesses), Niamh Farrelly (Peamount United), Megan Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), Hayley Nolan (London City Lionesses), Ruesha Littlejohn (Leicester City), Ellen Molloy (Wexford Youths), Jessica Ziu (Shelbourne), Emily Whelan (Shelbourne)

Strikers: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Heather Payne (Florida State University), Leanne Kiernan (West Ham United), Amber Barrett (FC Koln), Rianna Jarrett (Brighton & Hove Albion), Kyra Carusa (HB Hoge), Saoirse Noonan (Cork City)