Ronan names squad for Cyprus Cup

Women’s International manager Sue Ronan has named her squad that will be travelling to Greece next month to compete in the 2014 Cyprus Cup.

Among those chosen is Arsenal defender, Niamh Fahey. The Galway native has represented Ireland at U17 and U19 level, having earned her first cap for the senior side back in 2007. She has since accumulated 25 caps and was named FAI Women’s Senior International Player of the Year three times.

Work commitments and a cruciate ligament injury meant Fahey missed all of last year’s international programme, but manager Ronan is delighted to have her back:

 “We are going to use Cyprus to ease her back in, like we did last year with Dora Gorman when she returned from a lengthy injury.

“But having Niamh available again is going to give everybody a great lift particularly with the tough games against Germany and Russia coming up in the next few months,” said Ronan to FAI.ie

The squad also sees the return of Raheny United’s Megan Campbell, who was previously unavailable for selection as she was attending Florida University, as well as midfielder Shannon Smyth who scored her first international goal in last year’s tournament.

Smyth earned her first cap for Ireland back in 2010 and has been a regular ever since.

There are also a notable number of new players being called up for the tournament, including Raheny’s Siobhan Killeen. Twenty year old Killeen made her mark last season in the Bus Eireann Women’s National League and Women’s Umbro Cup. She was also part of the Raheny squad who participated in the inaugural Bus Eireann WNL.

The midfielder joins fellow teammate Niamh Reid-Burke along with Castlebar Celtic’s Aileen Gilroy and Reading’s Grace Maloney- all of whom will be looking to earn their first cap.

“All four have a lot of underage international experience behind them and we now have to see if they are ready for the step up to the senior squad.

“Niamh is probably the best home-based goalkeeper available while Grace has been in the last few squads and they’ll learn a lot from Emma Byrne during the week. Siobhan and Aileen can both play wide and they’ll give us more options on the flanks,” commented Ronan.

There will be some familiar faces absent in the squad, however, such as Durham FC’s Seana Cooke who is unavailable due to illness. School teacher’s Karen Duggan and Sophie Perry will only be available to play for a week each in the tournament due to work schedules.

The girls in green will enter the tournament as the lowest ranked team at WR33, and will compete with New Zealand (WR16), South Korea (WR17) and Switzerland (WR22) in Group 3 before they can progress any further in the competition.

Other teams in the tournament include previous Cup winners France (WR5), who won fourth place in the 2011 Women’s World Cup and 2012 Summer Olympics, as well as Olympic bronze medallists Canada (WR7).

The Cyprus Cup is preparation for Ireland’s ongoing campaign to qualify for the Women’s World Cup in Canada next year. Ireland are currently second in their group, behind second best in the world Germany, and have yet to qualify for the biggest tournament in the women’s game.

“Everything we are doing, from last month’s winter training camp in La Manga to the four games in Cyprus, is focused on the World Cup qualifiers and, in particular, the home games against Germany and Russia.

“We have introduced strength and conditioning programmes for all the home-based players and while the effects of that won’t be seen for some time it is another step in the right direction for us,” said Ronan.

Ireland’s first group match is against New Zealand March 5, at 14:30 in Tasos Marko Stadium.

SQUAD:

Goalkeepers: Emma Byrne (Arsenal), Grace Moloney (Reading), Niamh Reid-Burke (Raheny United). 

Defenders: Yvonne Tracy (Arsenal), Sophie Perry (Millwall), Meabh de Burca (Galway WFC), Louise Quinn (Eskilstuna United), Diane Caldwell (Avaldsness), Megan Campbell (Florida State University), Karen Duggan (Peamount United). 

Midfielders: Julie Ann Russell (Peamount United), Rachel Graham (Raheny United), Ciara Grant (Raheny United), Siobhan Killeen (Raheny United), Niamh Fahey (Arsenal), Dora Gorman (Peamount United), Aileen Gilroy (Castlebar Celtic), Shannon Smyth (Amazon Grimstad).

Forwards: Fiona O’Sullivan (SC Frieburg), Denise O’Sullivan (Glasgow City), Stephanie Roche (Peamount United), Ruesha Littlejohn (Glasgow City), Áine O’Gorman (Peamount United).