Ireland squad announced for final UEFA Nations League games with LOIW player of the month Ellen Dolan called up for first time

Interim Ireland Head Coach Eileen Gleeson has named a 26 player squad for the final two matches of the UEFA Nations League campaign.

The Girls in Green will take on Hungary in Tallaght Stadium on Friday 1 December before travelling to take on Northern Ireland in Windsor Park the following Tuesday.

Gleeson has drafted in 17-year-old Peamount United forward Ellen Dolan into the senior squad for the first time.

Dolan was today named as the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division Player of the Month for October / November, the third time in a row a Peas player has won the award following Jess Fitzgerald’s and Sadhbh Doyle’s recent wins.

Dolan, along with her club team mate Erin McLaughlin, are the only domestic based players in the squad.

She scored twice in the win away to Wexford Youths in the game that secured Peamount the title and scored a brace on the final day of the season against Sligo Rovers bringing her goal tally for the league campaign to seven.

“Ellen has had a great year,” said Eileen Gleeson speaking at today’s announcement as reported by RTÉ (see here).

“She’s done well in with the Under-19s as well so for us it’s a great opportunity to bring a young player in and expose her to the senior team environment, give her that experience, let her have a real feel for it and let us enjoy her youth and young talent coming through as well.”

There is a return to the squad for Jessie Stapleton and Ruesha Littlejohn but the FAI noted that ‘a number of players were not included due to still being on return to play procedures at their respective clubs following long-term injuries.’

There is no place in the squad for Amber Barrett nor Liverpool duo Niamh Fahey and Leanne Kiernan.

The players will report into camp next Monday.

Ireland have already won Group B1 to secure promotion to League A in the Nations League, having won all four matches in their group to date – at home Northern Ireland, away to Hungary and wins against Albania home and away.

Our Nations League explainer from the start of the campaign is here if you need to brush up on what this competition means.
 
Ireland WNT Squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (London City Lionesses), Sophie Whitehouse (Lewes)
Defenders: Caitlin Hayes (Celtic), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Diane Caldwell (FC Zurich), Hayley Nolan (Crystal Palace), Jessie Stapleton (West Ham United), Chloe Mustaki (Bristol City)
Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Bristol City), Jamie Finn (Birmingham City), Sinead Farrelly (NJ/NY Gotham), Ruesha Littlejohn (London City Lionesses), Lily Agg (Birmingham City), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Heather Payne (Everton), Izzy Atkinson (West Ham United)
Forwards: Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Abbie Larkin (Glasgow City), Erin McLaughlin (Peamount United), Saoirse Noonan (Durham WFC), Emily Whelan (Glasgow City), Ellen Dolan (Peamount United)

Fixtures 

Ireland v Hungary
Friday, 1 December (Tallaght Stadium)
KO 19:30 - LIVE on RTÉ2
 
Northern Ireland v Ireland
Tuesday, 5 December (National Football Stadium at Windsor Park)

KO 18:00 - LIVE on RTÉ2

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