Build up begins for Sweden game as Éabha O'Mahony and Claire O'Riordan called up into Ireland squad

The Republic of Ireland team have begun preparations for next week’s 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Qualifier away to Sweden.

They held their first training session in Dublin on Tuesday and ahead of the trip to take on the back-to-back Olympic silver medallists, they will play a training game against the Ireland boys under-15 side.

Vera Pauw, who will be in charge of her 20^th Ireland game next week, has brought in Éabha O'Mahony and Claire O'Riordan into the squad.

The pair were on standby but with Ireland having to deal with a number of defensive injuries, O’Mahony and O’Riordan have been called up from their clubs, Boston College and MSV Duisburg respectively.

The Ireland injury list includes Diane Caldwell (thigh), Savannah McCarthy (knee), Niamh Farrelly (ankle), Emily Whelan (quad), and Aoife Colvill (knee), while Saoirse Noonan is still recovering from a knee injury.

Defender Megan Campbell has remained at Liverpool as she continues to receive treatment for a knock and her fitness to travel will be assessed over the coming days. 

Her club teammates Niamh Fahey and Leanne Kiernan come into camp buoyed by the Reds’ promotion at the weekend back to the Women’s Super League.

Included in the Ireland squad for the first time is 28-year-old midfielder Lily Agg. The London City Lionesses player did train with the squad last year prior to the April friendlies against Denmark and Belgium.

Pauw has included six players from the WNL (including three from champions Shelbourne): Eve Badana (DLR Waves), Chloe Mustaki (Shelbourne), Áine O'Gorman (Peamount United), Jess Ziu (Shelbourne), Ellen Molloy (Wexford Youths) and Abbie Larkin (Shelbourne).

Ireland will travel to Sweden on Saturday head of Tuesday’s clash against the world’s number two side in the 14,500 capacity Gamla Ullevi stadium in Gothenburg.

The match will be officiated by Romanian referee Iuliana Demetrescu. She was part of the officiating team who took charge of last month’s Women’s Champions League quarter-final in the Allianz Arena between Bayern Munich and PSG.

Ireland squad in full: 
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (Reading), Megan Walsh (Brighton & Hove Albion), Eve Badana (DLR Waves)
Defenders: Harriet Scott (Birmingham City), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Claire Walsh (Glasgow City), Chloe Mustaki (Shelbourne), Claire O'Riordan (MSV Duisburg), Éabha O'Mahony (Boston College), Megan Campbell (Liverpool), Áine O'Gorman (Peamount United)
Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O'Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ruesha Littlejohn (Aston Villa), Jamie Finn (Birmingham City), Ciara Grant (Rangers), Jess Ziu (Shelbourne), Lily Agg (London City Lionesses), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Isibeal Atkinson (Celtic)
Forwards: Heather Payne (Florida State University), Kyra Carusa (HB Hoge), Amber Barrett (FC Koln), Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Ellen Molloy (Wexford Youths), Abbie Larkin (Shelbourne)

FAI Cup Preliminary Round draw made https://t.co/rsLLmyoagSpic.twitter.com/pCTbIKiffh

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) April 5, 2022