Vera Pauw calls up two new faces ahead of China and Germany friendlies

As Ireland continue to build towards the 2023 FIFA Women’s Cup, Vera Pauw has called up Manchester United defender Aoife Mannion and Washington Spirit midfielder Marissa Sheva for friendlies against China and Germany in Spain.  

The Girls in Green will play their first game on February 22nd at the Estadio Nuevo Mirador with kick-off set for 2pm (local time) and their second fixture will be behind closed doors. 

Mannion is a former English underage star who was called up for a number of senior friendlies but failed to make an appearance. 

Sheva declares for Ireland through her Tyrone born grandfather and her grandmother from Donegal. 

Megan Connolly also returns to the squad after missing the end of the World Cup qualifying campaign over an injury picked up against Finland last September at Tallaght Stadium. 

She will link up with an Irish squad that is missing Ellen Molloy, Jess Ziu, Aoife Colvill, Savannah McCarthy, Niamh Fahey, Leanne Kiernan, and Chloe Mustaki.  

Republic of Ireland WNT Squad 

Goalkeepers:Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Megan Walsh (Brighton & Hove Albion), Grace Moloney (Reading), Naoisha McAloon (Durham WFC).

Defenders: Harriet Scott (Birmingham City), Diane Caldwell (Reading), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Hayley Nolan (London City Lionesses), Claire Walsh (Glasgow City), Megan Campbell (Liverpool), Áine O’Gorman (Shamrock Rovers), Aoife Mannion (Manchester United).

Midfielders:Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ruesha Littlejohn (Aston Villa), Jamie Finn (Birmingham City), Lily Agg (London City Lionesses), Ciara Grant (Hearts), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Isibeal Atkinson (West Ham United). 

Forwards: Amber Barrett (Potsdam Turbine), Heather Payne (Florida State University), Kyra Carusa (London City Lionesses), Abbie Larkin (Shamrock Rovers), Marissa Sheva (Washington Spirit).