Ireland squad named for under-17 European Championships

Republic of Ireland under-17s coach Dave Bell has named his squad to take part in the UEFA European Championships in the Czech Republic next month.

The Girls in Green have been drawn in Group B of the eight-team finals tournament alongside England, the Netherlands and Norway.

Ireland reached the finals for the third time as a result of winning their elite qualification group, which was held in Serbia, without conceding a single goal.

Victories over the hosts and Hungary and a draw with Scotland left the Girls in Green on top of G with seven points, two points clear of the Scots.

The majority home-based squad includes a number of players with Women's National League experience including Peamount United striker Heather Payne and Shelbourne'sTiegen Ruddy.

There are two overseas-based players in the squad as Chelsea's Megan Mackey and West Bromwich Albion's Phoebe Warner, both midfielders, also make the cut.

Ireland face England in the opening game in Pribram on Sunday, May 2^nd at 11pm before facing Norway on Wednesday the 5^th in Plzen and the Netherlands on Saturday the 8^th in Domazlice.

Bell said: "The girls have worked so hard to get to this stage and fully deserve to be playing against the best in Europe.

"It is going to be difficult, we're under no illusions but this group have shown tremendous character where they have needed to get results and we came through a difficult Elite Round against Hungary, Serbia and Scotland to be here.

"We've got a lot of players who are already playing at National League level and Tiegan (Ruddy) has already played for the senior team so there is some really good experience throughout the whole squad.

"This is going to be a great experience for the players but we're fully focused on representing this country and fully focused on getting a result in that first game against England."

Ireland have competed in the finals stage of the under-17s championships twice. They finished second to Spain in Switzerland in 2010 before again reaching the finals in Iceland two years ago.

Republic of Ireland under-17s squad:

Goalkeepers: Erica Turner (UCD Waves), Rachael Kelly (Shelbourne LFC)
Defenders: Isibeal Atkinson (Enniskerry), Doireann Fahey (Peamount United), Sadhbh Doyle (Galway WFC), Eabha O'Mahony (Lakewood), Roisin McGovern (Enniskerry), Lauryn Grier (Kentstown Rovers)
Midfielders: Tyler Toland (Maiden City), Megan Mackey (Chelsea LFC), Tiegan Ruddy (Shelbourne LFC), Aisling Spillane (Peamount United), Orla Casey (Evergreen), Jessica Ziu (Shelbourne LFC), Phoebe Warner (West Bromwich Albion)
Forwards: Alannah McEvoy (Enniskerry), Carla McManus (Peamount United), Heather Payne (Peamount United)

Republic of Ireland under-17s tournament fixture schedule:

2 May, 2017: Republic of Ireland v England, KO 11.00, Na Litavce, Pribram
5 May, 2017: Republic of Ireland v Norway, KO 11.00, Doosan Arena, Plzen
8 May 2017 - Netherlands v Republic of Ireland, KO 14.00, Domazlice Stadium, Domazlice