DENISE O’SULLIVAN AND Ruesha Littlejohn have been ruled out of Ireland’s Euro 2025 qualifier against Sweden at the Aviva Stadium tonight [KO 7.30pm, live on RTÉ 2].
Cork centurion O’Sullivan lost her race for fitness due to a knee injury sustained in action for North Carolina Courage earlier this month.
Her absence in midfield will hit even harder with the news that London City Lionesses’ Littlejohn has also missed out on the matchday squad. She is suffering with an ankle problem related to ongoing Achilles issues.
Eileen Gleeson had yesterday said O’Sullivan would be given time, with a “late call” to be made on her involvement.
“We’ll have to keep assessing and modifying to make sure she can potentially be available then,” said Gleeson.
“There’ll be late calls. We always knew she was going to be on a modified training programme.
“We’re aware, we knew we would be [waiting], we knew there was an injury before she came in. We’re in the same position we were before we came into the camp with Denise.”
Like O’Sullivan, Littlejohn picked up her injury before coming into camp but this game arrives too soon. Both players will be assessed tomorrow before departing for next Tuesday’s showdown in Stockholm.
Cork City captain Eva Mangan also misses out on tonight’s matchday squad after receiving her first senior call-up.
Heather Payne and Niamh Fahey are among Ireland’s other injury absentees.
- Additional reporting from Emma Duffy.