Emma Duffy

WITH ONE IRISH World Cup dream dead in the water, another is about to ramp up.

Just 24 days after their most recent game, Carla Ward is due to name her squad on Monday ahead of a decisive double-header against Poland.

After opening with a pair of 2-1 defeats to heavyweights France and Netherlands, the next stop on Ireland’s 2027 World Cup qualifying bid is Gdańsk on Tuesday 14 April, before the return tie at Aviva Stadium the following Saturday afternoon.

Ireland’s ultimate path through the play-offs looks likely to hinge on these results: finishing third in this group would secure a play-off semi-final against League C opposition, whereas finishing fourth would bring higher-ranked League B teams into play. Poland are eyeing up the exact same scenario, though they hold the upper hand after their Dutch draw, meaning Ireland likely need points in both of these games.

– Boost –

Ward is due to show her hand at 1pm on Monday, and a similar panel to the familiar, experienced one which faced France and Netherlands is expected, with Denise O’Sullivan likely the headline returnee.

Ireland’s midfield maestro aggravated an ongoing MCL knee issue in the Tallaght Stadium opener against Les Bleues, and was ruled out for the trip to Utrecht.

Routinely labelled “world-class” by Ward, O’Sullivan’s absence was keenly felt, but she made a quick return to fitness and has since featured twice for Liverpool: a full game against Brighton last week, and the last 19 minutes off the bench in Saturday’s WSL Merseyside Derby win. Precautionary strapping has continued to be a feature, but the 32-year-old Corkonian should be in line for her 130th international cap in a major boost.

Katie McCabe will spearhead the squad alongside O’Sullivan, having enjoyed a rich vein of recent club form despite her uncertain future. The Irish captain is expected to leave Arsenal after 11 years this summer, but their Champions League title defence remains her focus before international duty.

McCabe played a starring role as the Gunners seized a 3-1 quarter-final first-leg lead against Chelsea last week, contributing an assist and shifting to centre-back from her usual left-sided station for the second half. She warmed up for Wednesday’s return tie with another assist in a North London Derby success on Saturday.

With McCabe the only Irish player on target in this campaign thus far, Amber Barrett and Abbie Larkin are among those looking to bring their club form to the international stage, having both scored at the weekend.

– Injury concerns –

Midfielder Lily Agg looked set to return to the squad for the first time since late 2024, having recovered from an ACL injury and subsequent cancer diagnosis, but limped off after bagging her first goal for loan club Durham on Sunday.

The 32-year-old fell just short of selection last time out, but has since further built up her minutes in the Championship, and looks set for a recall if fit.

“I’ve been onto Lily and the club for weeks,” Ward said at her last squad announcement. “I’m like, ‘When’s she back?’ I think she’s going to be really important for us this year.

“She’s only been back in full team training literally a couple of weeks, not even that. If she had been a couple more weeks, then there would be no question whatsoever. The sooner we can get Lily back and fit the better, I think she’s a really important player for what we’re trying to do.”

In another injury concern from the same game, Jessie Stapleton also went off in the first half with a calf niggle as her Nottingham Forest side won 2-1. 

Heather Payne, Jess Ziu and Izzy Atkinson were others ruled out through injury for France and Netherlands, while Hayley Nolan was forced to withdraw mid-camp due to an ankle/calf setback. None of that quartet have played since, so are unlikely to be involved. Tara O’Hanlon was among those to miss out on initial selection, but the Manchester City youngster – on loan at Celtic – replaced Nolan and went unused.

Another who suffered the same fate, Ruesha Littlejohn, will typically be in the spotlight. Her inclusion was questioned last time out, as the Crystal Palace 35-year-old was returning from an extended, five-game ban. Ward always comes back to her experience and importance to the environment, but Littlejohn hasn’t played since.

The Ireland XI that started against Netherlands. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

– Depth –

Squad depth – or lack thereof – and age profile have been concerns for some time, and as detailed by The 42, both were laid bare in the opening window.

Ward used 15 of the 23 players available to her, making one change to the starting team, enforced by O’Sullivan’s injury.

Of both Irish XIs, seven players are aged 30 or over. All but one – back to back Player of the Match Emily Murphy – are over 25. The average age is 29, and just five players have made debuts since the 2023 World Cup (none came through the fractured Irish system).

This is not lost on Ward, but the reality is she is in win-now territory with World Cup qualification her remit.

Calls to include underage internationals and League of Ireland Women’s Premier Division talent are constant, but the English coach continually highlights the “massive jump” – not helped by a lack of U21 or U23 national team.

Teenage midfielders Madison McGuane (Treaty United) and Aoibhe Brennan (Bohemians) have been name-checked, but both are with the U19s for their games against Germany, France and Slovakia.

Ward recently watched Peamount United stun Shamrock Rovers, and Bohemians beat Cork City; one wonders if anyone caught her eye that day. Ellen Molloy – now of Rovers – has recently been on the fringes, with seven caps to her credit, while other Irish players have been doing their utmost across various leagues.

Surprises are always possible, but the wise bet for this squad announcement is to expect more of the same.

As Heimir Hallgrímsson tries to pick his side up for a grim international friendly against North Macedonia, the World Cup dream burns bright for Ward and co., who move into the business end.