As the Ireland squad plays their first-ever World Cup finals match against joint hosts Australia today, Brendan Crossan gives the lowdown on each player and how they got to this point in their careers...
Goalkeepers
Courtney Brosnan (Everton)
IRELAND’S undisputed number one turned down the opportunity to play for USA – her birthplace - at U23 level, but she’d been playing underage with Ireland and stuck with her adopted country. The 27-year-old, who has made 23 senior appearances with 10 clean sheets among them, made a heroic penalty save in the World Cup play-off game against Scotland. Although she was born in New Jersey and studied in the States, she’s played most of her football in Europe.
Grace Moloney (Unattached)
IRELAND’S back-up ‘keeper had a rough few weeks after posting her team-mates singing the Wolfe Tones’ song, The Celtic Symphony, in the immediate aftermath of qualifying for the World Cup.
She has since thanked her manager and team-mates for their unwavering support. Released by Reading after they suffered relegation at the end of last season, the six-times capped netminder will probably only play if Brosnan gets injured.
Megan Walsh (Brighton)
IMAGINED a different international path with England but once she failed to win a senior cap with the country of her birth, she switched allegiances to Ireland, through her Wexford-born grandfather. Experienced many highs and lows with Brighton, the 28-year-old has just one cap to her name with Ireland.
Read more:Women's World Cup to ‘proceed as planned' despite shooting incident in Auckland
Defenders
Aine O’Gorman (Shamrock Rovers)
VERA Pauw persuaded the Wicklow native to come out of international retirement in 2018 and is now the third most capped Irish player with 118 caps. The 34-year-old normally plays in attack at club level – she had a brief spell in England with Doncaster Rovers – but plays midfield or defence for Ireland. Married to Rachel Neary, the couple celebrated the birth of their first child last year.
Niamh Fahey (Liverpool)
AN All-Ireland winner with Galway GAA at just 16, Fahey has grown in stature since making her debut back in 2007. The eldest player in the squad at 35, Fahey was a team-mate of Katie Taylor’s in their teens before the latter chose boxing. Defensively solid for Ireland, the Galway native has just signed a new deal with Liverpool.
Read more: Niamh Fahey says nothing can truly prepare team for World Cup opener
Louise Quinn (Birmingham)
ANOTHER member of Ireland’s 100-club, the 33-year-old Dubliner has played in Sweden, England and Italy and is currently turning out for Birmingham City where she earned a two-year extension. Scored on her 100th cap against Morocco last November and is a steadying influence on Vera Pauw’s team. Gaelic football, hockey and athletics are her other sporting interests.
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Diane Caldwell (Reading)
IRELAND’S longest-serving player along with Aine Gorman, whose senior international careers date back to 2006, has had a tough season with Reading which ended in relegation. The much-travelled 34-year-old defender from Balbriggan has played in Iceland, Norway, USA and Germany. Approaching 100 caps, Caldwell is a trusted member of the Irish defence.
Claire O’Riordan (Celtic)
THE Limerick native recently left Celtic to join international team-mate Amber Barrett at Standard Liege. She signed off with a goal and a player-of-the-match performance in the Scottish Cup final defeat to Rangers at the end of the season. O’Riordan played Gaelic football and Camogie for Limerick before switching codes. The 28-year-old enjoyed a four-year stint in MSV Duisburg.
Chloe Mustaki (Bristol City)
THE 28-year-old former UCD student suffered cancer in her late teens and also recovered from a bad ACL just before her anticipated senior debut in 2019. Kept believing and won her senior international debut against Russia last year. Can play defence or midfield, she featured 14 times for Bristol City in her first year as a fully fledged professional footballer and helped the club win promotion to the Women’s Super League next season.
Heather Payne (unattached)
IRELAND’S Young Player of the Year, the Roscommon native played Gaelic football for her county and successfully tried her hand at volleyball, basketball, swimming and athletics before concentrating on football. Played at Peamount United and enjoyed a stint at Bristol City. She studied at Florida State University and the teak-tough defender shouldn’t be short of club offers after the World Cup.
Izzy Atkinson (West Ham)
MADE a successful late charge for a place in the Ireland squad as she hadn’t featured in any of the previous squads. But an opening appeared at left wing-back following the absence of Megan Campbell through injury. Atkinson, now with West Ham, stepped in against Zambia and did enough to secure a berth. Used sparingly since her 2018 debut, winning just five caps, but a good back-up option.
Midfielders
Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage)
PLAYED the pass through to Amber Barrett to score against Scotland that clinched Ireland’s place at the World Cup finals. The 29-year-old Cork native, who has won over 100 caps, is the creative hub of this Irish team and is highly rated by Vera Pauw. O’Sullivan’s career has taken her to Scotland, Australia, and now America where she’s won two NWSL with North Carolina Courage.
Read more: Republic of Ireland sweating on fitness of Denise O'Sullivan ahead of opener
Katie McCabe (Arsenal)
THE undisputed totem of the Irish team, the 27-year-old drives the standards. Rarely misses a game for her country, the Arsenal player can play at wing-back or midfield and is always a goal threat with 20 international goals to her name. Formerly of Shelbourne, the Dubliner was selected in the Champions League team of the year for Arsenal.
Ruesha Littlejohn (unattached)
REPRESENTED Scotland at underage level until she fell out with their coach and decided to play for Ireland through her Belfast grandparents. The 33-year-old holding midfielder has amassed over 70 caps and scored six goals over an 11-year international career with Ireland. The joker of the team and big Youtuber, the Glaswegian is a key player in Vera Pauw’s team.
Read more: Embracing the limelight all part of World Cup experience for Ruesha Littlejohn
Megan Connolly (Brighton)
THERE’S no doubting Connolly’s warrior spirit after she played on with fractured ribs and a lacerated kidney against Finland last year. The 26-year-old Cork native studied in Florida State University and helped them win a national title in 2018. Played a few seasons with Brighton before their summer clear-out included her, Connolly is expected to see plenty of game-time in Australia.
Ciara Grant (Hearts)
AN intelligent number six, the Hearts midfielder mightn’t be first choice but is a great option for Vera Pauw who brought the Donegal woman back into the fold in 2021 after a long period away from the international scene. A brilliant Gaelic footballer with St Eunan’s, Letterkenny and Donegal, the 30-year-old hopes to add to her 18 caps in Australia.
Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City)
THE Southampton-born attacking midfielder looked to be out of the World Cup running until she received a late call-up for the April games against USA and took her chance with both hands. She qualifies through her Sligo-born grandfather and has played for Portsmouth, Yeovil, Tottenham Hotspur and is now enjoying her second spell with Birmingham City. Featured in seven of Ireland’s World Cup qualifiers.
Lily Agg (London City Lionesses)
RAN more than anyone else during that unforgettable night in Hampden Park, clocking just over 11km, the Brighton-born midfielder made her first appearance for her adopted Ireland in a friendly win over the Philippines last summer and featured in five World Cup qualifiers. Tasted defeat for the first time in an Ireland jersey against France. Seems to share games with Ruesha Littlejohn.
Sinead Farrelly (NY/NJ Gotham)
ANOTHER American-born squad member, the 33-year-old midfielder represented the US up until U23 before joining Ireland, after World Cup qualification was assured, through her Cavan-born father. A likely starter in Australia, Farrelly blew the whistle after being the victim of a sexual coercion case during her time in the NWSL. Hadn’t played competitively since 2015, Farrelly hit the ground running with Gotham FC and is a likely starter for Ireland.
Forwards
Kyra Carusa (London City Lionesses)
BORN in San Diego, Carusa qualifies through her Cork and Laois grandparents and, barring injury, is a nailed on starter to lead the Irish attack. The exceptionally strong central striker has had spells in America and Denmark and is now cutting a dash with London City Lionesses. A relative newcomer with just 12 caps and two goals.
Amber Barrett (Standard Liege)
ONE of the most popular members of the Irish squad, the former Donegal GAA star scored the all-important goal to beat Scotland in October and secured the team’s place at these finals. Endured a miserable season with German outfit Potsdam Turbine but is looking forward to a fresh start with Standard Liege in Belgium. Successfully auditioned for a seat on the plane with two goals against Zambia.
Abbie Larkin (Shamrock Rovers)
AT just 18, the Shamrock Rovers ace is the youngest squad member. She couldn’t stop crying when Vera Pauw told her she was in the squad of 23. A gifted player, the Ringsend native has just eight caps to her name and scored her first goal in Ireland’s 9-0 win over Georgia in a Qualifier last summer. One of four strikers in Pauw’s panel.
Marissa Sheva (Washington Spirit)
THE American-born wide player arrived on the scene after Ireland qualified for the World Cup but had reached out to the FAI as far back as last year having qualified to play through her Donegal and Tyrone grandparents. Quick and athletic, Sheva has made four appearances since hooking up with the squad in February. Likely to see plenty of game-time in Australia.
