Ireland get massive boost as experienced trio recalled for Euro 2025 play-off showdown with Wales
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Ireland, as expected, welcome back experienced trio Megan Campbell, Megan Connolly and Ruesha Littlejohn for their Euro 2025 final play-off ties against Wales beginning next week in Cardiff.
Boss Eileen Gleeson released her squad this morning for the double date that will decide whether the Irish can appear at their second successive major tournament in Switzerland next summer.
Connolly and Littlejohn were part of that squad in Australia in 2023.
Eva Mangan and Katie Keane drop out from the group that dismissed Georgia in the first round of the play-offs last month, meaning Galway’s Julie-Ann Russell is the only home-based player in the squad.
Ireland were unable to call on Louise Quinn (hip), Ellen Molloy (hamstring), Lucy Quinn (ankle), Jamie Finn (knee) or Jess Ziu (knee).
Wales comfortably beat an experimental side 2-0 in a Dublin friendly last February but they will be without two of that day’s star performers, Sophie Ingle and Elise Hughes.
Defenders: Jessie Stapleton (Sunderland, on loan from West Ham United), Diane Caldwell (FC Zurich), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Aoife Mannion (Manchester United), Caitlin Hayes (Celtic), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Megan Campbell (London City Lionesses)
Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Carolina), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Lily Agg (Birmingham City), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Ruesha Littlejohn (London City Lionesses), Heather Payne (Everton), Marissa Sheva (Portland Thorns), Izzy Atkinson (Crystal Palace)
