THERE WERE SEVERAL Irish internationals on target over the weekend, which came as a boost for Eileen Gleeson as she prepares to name her squad for their crunch Euro 2025 play-off.
But with the positives came concerns, as another major injury doubt emerged.
The Ireland head coach is due to show her hand on Thursday morning ahead of the decisive two-legged play-off against Wales next Friday 29 November and Tuesday 3 December.
Who will get the nod? Here, we run through the weekend’s club action and look at the shape the squad is in. For convenience, players are listed as they were for the first play-off against Georgia, and generally, only those in the frame currently are included.
Goalkeepers
Courtney Brosnan was Player of the Match as Everton beat Liverpool 1-0 to secure their first WSL win of the season. Ireland’s number one produced a string of excellent saves and was hailed as a “world-class ‘keeper” by Toffees manager Brian Sørensen after the Merseyside Derby. It capped a memorable week, during which Brosnan was named FAI Senior Women’s International Player of the Year for the second successive year.
Brosnan denies Liverpool twice! 💪#BarclaysWSL @EvertonWomen pic.twitter.com/89BMfgBzWl
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) November 17, 2024
Grace Moloney and Sophie Whitehouse both played as their London City Lionesses and Charlton Athletic sides lost to Durham and Bristol City in the Championship. Megan Walsh was again on West Ham’s bench for their 3-2 WSL defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Defenders
Aoife Mannion has emerged as an injury doubt. She was absent from the Manchester United squad for their 2-0 win at Leicester City, with All for United WFC reporting a “muscle related injury which will keep her out for a couple of weeks”. The 42 have contacted United for an update.
Louise Quinn (hip) and Diane Caldwell (back) are the other defensive injury concerns, having not returned to club action since missing last month’s Georgia double-header. Quinn’s Birmingham City weren’t in action over the weekend, while Caldwell wasn’t involved in FC Zürich’s 3-2 win over Luzern.
🍀 Celtic have their equaliser!
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) November 17, 2024
Caitlin Hayes heads in for her first goal of the season 🎯 pic.twitter.com/1spvvD0Ndu
There were positive contributions for Irish players elsewhere. Caitlin Hayes scored her first goal of the season as Celtic were defeated 3-2 by Rangers. She returned to the XI and played the full game after rumours of a suspension.
Anna Patten was also on target in Aston Villa’s 3-2 win over Crystal Palace. A week after her Player of the Match performance against Manchester United, Patten became the first Irish goalscorer in the WSL this season. She levelled the game at 1-1, slotting home a rare goal with her foot:
Slotted into the bottom corner 🎯#BarclaysWSL @AVWFCOfficial @PattenAnna pic.twitter.com/d5BW3uj7Cy
— Barclays Women's Super League (@BarclaysWSL) November 17, 2024
Megan Campbell made her first appearance of the season, coming off the bench at half time of London City Lionesses’ 3-2 defeat to Durham. The long-throw specialist’s return from an ankle setback is a welcome one.
Chloe Mustaki played the full game as Bristol City beat Charlton 2-1, stepping up her own injury comeback, while Jessie Stapleton retuned from suspension and went the distance in Sunderland’s 1-0 win at Sheffield United.
Midfielders
Katie McCabe played 86 minutes of Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. The Irish captain continued her brilliant club form, but will have been disappointed with some of her set-pieces.
Tyler Toland was another Irish player on the scoresheet. The Blackburn Rovers captain converted a first-half penalty in her side’s 2-0 win over Portsmouth in the Championship. Heather Payne starred for Everton in their crucial win over Liverpool, days after being named FAI International Women’s Young Player of the Year once again.
Ellen Molloy missed Sheffield’s loss to Sunderland through injury, as confirmed by the club. The 42 understands Molloy picked up a slight hamstring strain in last week’s game and could be another doubt for Wales.
In terms of recent injury returnees, Megan Connolly played the full game in Lazio’s 2-1 loss to Roma, while Ruesha Littlejohn was an unused substitute for London City after her first appearance of the season last weekend.
Izzy Atkinson was similarly held in reserve in Crystal Palace’s defeat to Villa, while Lily Agg’s Birmingham didn’t have a game.
Forwards
Amber Barrett scored in Standard Liége’s 4-3 defeat to Club Brugge in Germany. (All three of their Irish internationals started, with Aoife Colvill in attack and Claire O’Riordan in defence.)
Leanne Kiernan made her third start in a row for Liverpool and looked lively throughout her 70 minutes, while Abbie Larkin was introduced in the 65th minute for Palace.
Out of season
Denise O’Sullivan, Kyra Carusa and Marissa Sheva have all had their NWSL campaigns ended in the play-offs recently, while Julie-Ann Russell, Katie Keane and Eva Mangan were the Women’s Premier Division representatives in Gleeson’s most recent squad.
They must stay fit and sharp individually, with Russell training with boys at her local club, Salthill Devon, while continuing CrossFit sessions and running through the off-season.
Recent absentees
Lucy Quinn joins the long-term injury list after recently undergoing ankle surgery. She detailed her setback on Life’s A Pitch, the podcast she co-hosts with Ruesha Littlejohn.
Jamie Finn reconvened with her Birmingham teammates in recent weeks as she eyes her return from an ACL rupture, while Jess Ziu (ACL) and Hayley Nolan (shoulder) remained sidelined.
Saoirse Noonan scored a superb free-kick for Celtic as she targets an international recall, while Emily Whelan wasn’t in the Glasgow City squad for their 6-1 win over Queen’s Park. Former Ireland underage international Emily Kraft was also on target in Scotland with a goal and assist for Aberdeen.
Meanwhile, Emily Murphy has been in regular acton for Wake Forest University, as well as Erin McLaughlin for Portsmouth. She played 68 minutes against Blackburn yesterday.
Promising U17 international Eve O’Carroll was again on the Manchester City bench for their 2-0 WSL defeat to Chelsea, while there was no sign of Tara O’Hanlon.
All things considered, I think Kerry football is in the healthiest position it has been in years. And with our hurlers in the senior championship next year – Roll on 2016!!
Jack o Connor must go down as one of the best managers the gaa has seen. All Ireland’s at minor, 21 and senior. Still has a big say in future of Kerry football by the sound of things
He has been involved in 21 All Ireland finals, all the above + schools.
He has 18 All Ireland wins – that is just amazing
Great manager but got it all wrong Sunday.
Ruth Dublin are just a better team than kerry 3 wins from 3
Kerry have a knack of pulling out a few new stars when it looks like change is needed. adding one or two of those minors and a retirement or two and you’ve a fresh and very talented squad
Lets be honest but for some terrible refreeing decisions last yr Kerry would not have been in the Final last yr.And again this yr in Killarney poor refreeing decisions put them on the good side of the draw avoiding Dublin and Mayo in the process which meant they would have been knocked out of this yrs championship at the quarter or semi final stage. This had nothing to do with Eamon fitzs “genius” as a manager.
correct John the first top team they faced beat them quiet easily all over the pitch.
I wouldn’t be writing off Kerry yet ! they have a history of getting it right and coming back and winning Sam ! However this Dublin team Definitely have their measure !
agreed lorcan kerry are definitely the second best team.
There’ll be plenty of retirements now I’d say.
Donaghy and The Gooch certainly don’t instill the same fear as they used too !