Toland returns as Ireland name squad to face Northern Ireland and Hungary

Emma Duffy

INTERIM REPUBLIC OF Ireland women’s manager Eileen Gleeson has announced her squad for the upcoming Uefa Nations League games against Northern Ireland and Hungary.

Tyler Toland returns for the first time since November 2019 after a public falling out with former manager Vera Pauw. The Donegal midfielder has made a bright start to the FA Women’s Championship season at Blackburn Rovers.

Gleeson has included 25 players for the double-header, with over 30,000 tickets sold for the historic Group B1 opener against Northern Ireland at the Aviva Stadium next Saturday. The Girls In Green travel directly to Budapest afterwards to face Hungary on Tuesday, 26 September.

Savannah McCarthy, Éabha O’Mahony and Emily Whelan are back in the fold, while there are recalls for Saoirse Noonan and Hayley Nolan after they missed out on World Cup selection.

WNT squad 🇮🇪 confirmed for UEFA Nations League opening games

Over 3️⃣0️⃣,0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ tickets sold for Northern Ireland game in @AVIVAStadium

Secure your seat now 👇https://t.co/JBcNEh3DjJ#COYGIG | #WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/81r7gZvHMo

— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) September 15, 2023

Injuries rule out Niamh Fahey (calf), Megan Campbell (knee), Aoife Mannion (quad), Jessie Stapleton (knee), Claire Walsh (knee), Tara O’Hanlon (hamstring), Roma McLaughlin (hamstring), Jess Ziu (knee), Sinead Farrelly (back) and Leanne Kiernan (ankle), as per an FAI spokesperson.

Izzy Atkinson and Ciara Grant are the players from Pauw’s World Cup squad unaccounted for, with reserve goalkeeper Sophie Whitehouse also left out as Gleeson opts for three shot-stoppers.

Áine O’Gorman and Harriet Scott have both retired from international football and will be honoured ahead of the Northern Ireland game at Lansdowne Road.

McCarthy, returning from an ACL injury, is the one home-based player to be called up, after O’Gorman’s departure and Abbie Larkin’s deadline day move to Glagsow City.

The squad links up on Monday to begin preparations, with training taking place at the FAI National Training Centre.

New Northern Ireland manager Tanya Oxtoby has also named her squad for next Saturday’s showdown. They host Albania in their other fixture.

Republic of Ireland squad

• Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (London City Lionesses), Megan Walsh (West Ham United)
• Defenders: Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Diane Caldwell (FC Zurich), Claire O’Riordan (Standard Liege), Savannah McCarthy (Shamrock Rovers), Éabha O’Mahony (University of Texas), Hayley Nolan (Crystal Palace), Chloe Mustaki (Bristol City)
• Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Ruesha Littlejohn (London City Lionesses), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Jamie Finn (Birmingham City), Megan Connolly (Bristol City), Lily Agg (Birmingham City), Heather Payne (Everton), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Marissa Sheva (Washington Spirit)
• Forwards: Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Abbie Larkin (Glasgow City), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Saoirse Noonan (Durham WFC), Emily Whelan (Glasgow City)

Northern Ireland squad

• Goalkeepers: Rachael Norney (Cliftonville Ladies), Shannon Turner (Wolverhampton Wanderers Women), Lilie Woods (Mid Ulster Ladies).
• Defenders: Rebecca Holloway (Racing Louisville, USA), Abbie Magee (Cliftonville Ladies), Ellie Mason (Birmingham City Women), Sarah McFadden (Durham Women), Rebecca McKenna (Charlton Athletic Women), Laura Rafferty (Southampton Women), Demi Vance (Glentoran Women).
• Midfielders: Joely Andrews (Glentoran Women), Megan Bell (Rangers Women), Nadene Caldwell (Glentoran Women), Marissa Callaghan (Cliftonville Ladies), Rachel Furness (Bristol City Women), Caragh Hamilton (Lewes), Chloe McCarron (Glentoran Women).
• Forwards: Kerry Beattie (Glentoran Women), Simone Magill (Aston Villa Women), Caitlin McGuinness (Cliftonville Ladies), Kirsty McGuinness (Cliftonville Ladies), Lauren Wade (Reading Women), Emily Wilson (Glentoran Women).