Friendly Preview: Republic of Ireland -v- Cymru

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

The unbeaten record for the Girls in Green under manager Eileen Gleeson is to tested in Tallaght on Tuesday night when Wales come to town (kick-off 7.30pm - live on RTÉ2).

Under Gleeson’s stewardship (as interim manager), Ireland won all six of their UEFA Nations League games and, in her first game in permanent charge, they played out a scoreless draw with world ranked 14^th Italy in last Friday’s friendly in Florence.

Her team have scored 20 goals and conceded just two from those seven games.

Ireland had a goal ruled out against Italy when Leanne Kiernan, on her return from an eight month injury layoff, found the back of the net only for an offside flag to go up.

The Girls in Green lined up a with a back four for the match, moving away from the back three used by Gleeson, due to Louise Quinn’s absence following her recent sholder dislocation.

The double header against Le Azzuree and the Dragons is part of the preparations for the UEFA EURO 2025 Qualifiers, which kick off in April. The qualification draw is due to take place next week on Tuesday 5 March in UEFA HQ in Nyon.

With the new North Stand open in Tallaght, tonight could see the record attendance for a women's international in the Dublin 24 venue may be broken - that figure stands at 7,632 from their game against France on the eve of their departure to last year's World Cup.

Ireland WNT Squad

Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (London City Lionesses), Sophie Whitehouse (Lewes)

Defenders: Jessie Stapleton (Reading – on loan from West Ham United), Diane Caldwell (FC Zurich), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Caitlin Hayes (Celtic), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Aoife Mannion (Manchester United), Megan Campbell (London City Lionesses)

Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Lily Agg (Birmingham City), Megan Connolly (Bristol City), Ruesha Littlejohn (London City Lionesses), Heather Payne (Everton), Jess Ziu (West Ham United), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Izzy Atkinson (Crystal Palace), Erin McLaughlin (Peamount United), Jess Fitzgerald (Peamount United)

Forwards: Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Emily Murphy (Wake Forest University)

CYMRU

Following Gemma Grainger’s departure, Cymru confirmed on the eve of their friendly in Dublin that former Canadian international Rhian Wilkinson will take charge when Wales start their EURO 2025 qualifying.

Wilkinson retired after 183 appearances for Canada including playing across four World Cups and three Olympics. She recently managed Portland Thorns to the NWSL Championship in 2022.

Prior to joining the Thorns, she was the Head Coach for the Canada U17 and U20 youth programs and was an Assistant Coach for England, Team GB at the 2021 Olympic Games, and for Canada at the 2019 FIFA World Cup. 

However in Tallaght on Tuesday it will be interim Head Coach Jon Grey that is in charge.

Gray has brought five players in for their first call ups, including under-19 players Tianna Teisar, Olivia Francis and Mayzee Davies who come in after being involved at underage level games with Scotland in the last week.

Midfielder Lois Joel (who plays her club football with three Ireland players at London City Lionesses) and striker Tegan McGowan are the other players selected for the first time.

Cymru are ranked eight positions below 24^th placed Ireland and this tie has history as it was back in May 1973 that Cymru and Ireland played in Llanelli in what was the first-ever women’s international for both countries.

Cymru: Olivia Clark (Bristol City), Safia Middleton-Patel (Manchester United – dual signed Watford), Laura O’Sullivan (Cardiff City Ladies), Rhiannon Roberts (Real Betis), Josie Green (Leicester City), Hayley Ladd (Manchester United), Gemma Evans (Manchester United), Charlie Estcourt (Reading), Ella Powell (Bristol City), Lily Woodham (Seattle Reign), Sophie Ingle (Chelsea), Alice Griffitshs (Southampton), Angharad James (Seattle Reign), Lois Joel (London City Lionesses), Rachel Rowe (Rangers), Ffion Morgan (Bristol City), Jess Fishlock (Seattle Reign), Ceri Holland (Liverpool), Carrie Jones (Bristol City), Kayleigh Barton (Charlton Athletic), Elise Hughes (Crystal Palace), Mary McAteer (Sunderland), Tegan McGowan (Charlton Athletic), Tianna Teisar (Bristol City – dual signed Cardiff City Ladies), Olivia Francis (Manchester United), Mayzee Davies (Manchester United).

Referee: Frida Mia Klarlund (Denmark)

MATCH STATS
Ireland have played the Welsh women’s side on 20 occasions earning 13 wins and four draws from those matches.

The last time the teams played was a February 2022 friendly in Spain that Ireland won 1-0. The Girls in Green last loss to Wales in a 1-0 defeat in Turner’s Cross in a EURO2013 qualifier.

Katie McCabe has scored three times in games between the teams. She secored twice in a 2-1 friendly win in Newport August 2016 and the winner Ireland’s Cyprus Cup win in March 2017. If, as expected, McCabe leads out Ireland on Tuesday evening, it will be the 55th time to skipper the Girls in Green.

PREDICTION
2 – 0 home win

Republic of Ireland

Injured: Denise O’Sullivan, Jamie Finn, Tyler Toland, Sinead Farrelly

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

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