Emma Duffy Reports from Aviva Stadium

EILEEN GLEESON HAS named a 24-player squad for Ireland’s decisive Euro 2025 play-off final against Wales.

The experienced Louise Quinn is the standout absence in defence as she continues to recover from a hip injury, but Manchester United’s Aoife Mannion has been included along with the veteran Diane Caldwell despite doubts about their availability.

Mannion was absent from the Manchester United squad for their WSL fixture at the weekend, raising concerns. As she unveiled her selection this morning, Gleeson confirmed Mannion had a grade one calf injury. “She needed some rest, but we’re hopeful she’ll be available,” the Irish head coach said.

The midfield, meanwhile, has been boosted by returnees. Ruesha Littlejohn and Megan Connolly are back in the fold after Achilles and hamstring setbacks sidelined them for last month’s first-round play-off against Georgia.

“It’s huge,” Gleeson told The 42. “They were injured in the last camp and thankfully we were able to sustain them not being in. To have them back in is huge.”

Let’s make history.

Our Women’s National Team squad for our @WEURO2025 play-off final ☘️#COYGIG pic.twitter.com/jLOHlLpgMM

— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) November 21, 2024

Megan Campbell also returns to the squad after an ankle lay-off, while Ellen Molloy misses out after picking up a hamstring strain. Lucy Quinn was unavailable for selection, having recently undergone ankle surgery. Jess Ziu and Jamie Finn are long-term absentees with ACL injuries.

Gleeson has not had to contend with any other issues.

Julie-Ann Russell is the only Women’s League of Ireland representative, with Cork City captain Eva Mangan dropping out from the last squad. Russell is among those out of season, training individually and with her local boys club, Salthill Devon. Her progress is being monitored by Ireland’s performance coach, Ivi Casagrande.

The two-legged play-off gets underway at Cardiff City Stadium next Friday, 29 November.

The return tie is the following Tuesday, 3 December, with the winner qualifying for their first European Championships.

The FAI announced last night that over 15,000 tickets had been sold for the Landsdowne Road showdown.

Wales named a relatively unchanged squad yesterday. “It’s what we expected,” Gleeson concluded. “At this point, you are looking for consistency. There’s not really any surprises, I don’t think there’ll be any surprises in ours for them either.

“It’s a very evenly-matched tie. In terms of squad profile and the level that girls play at, it’s nearly identical. They’re a strong team. We played them in February, they beat us well, so we know they’ve got strength in depth, some really strong key players like ourselves.

“It’s huge, it’s a play-off, first time ever for Euro qualification, so everybody is excited, everybody is being super respectful of Wales and the quality they have as well. We’re looking forward to it.”

Ireland squad to play Wales

Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan, Grace Moloney, Sophie Whitehouse.

Defenders: Jessie Stapleton, Diane Caldwell, Niamh Fahey, Aoife Mannion, Caitlin Hayes, Anna Patten, Megan Campbell.

Midfielders: Katie McCabe (captain), Denise O’Sullivan, Megan Connolly, Lily Agg, Tyler Toland, Ruesha Littlejohn, Heather Payne, Marissa Sheva, Izzy Atkinson.

Forwards: Kyra Carusa, Abbie Larkin, Amber Barrett, Leanne Kiernan, Julie-Ann Russell.

- Updated 11.15am with quotes from live press conference.