Republic of Ireland under-17 squad announced for Euro Qualifiers

A 20-player squad has today been announced by Republic of Ireland U17 head coach James Scott for his side’s upcoming Women’s Under-17’s European Championship Qualifying fixtures due to take place this week.

The key qualifiers will take place in Lithuania over the coming week with the Irish side set to take on Albania, Lithuania and Greece as they look for the perfect start on the road to next year’s tournament in Scotland.

As part of Scott’s squad there are five ladies who have received their first call-ups with Olivia Gibson, Orlagh Fitzpatrick, Laura Shine, Ellen Molloy and Jenna Slattery all experiencing the honour of being a part of the squad for the first time next week.

Speaking after the squad announcement, Scott seemed happy with the balance throughout the squad and also the experience he will have from those that were involved last year too.

“We had fifty players in for assessment last Wednesday from all around Ireland with these games in mind and have no selected from that a squad of twenty.

“We’ve got a good balance, there’s three or four girls that played in the Under-17’s last year so that’s brilliant and great for us. It was a great education for them and now they will know what to expect coming in this year having got through to the Elite’s last year too.

“We want these players to come in and experience international football. It was tough in Belgium but I think all of the girls have seen the standard required now from the fitness to the technical excellence and hopefully they will now put that into fruition.”

Ireland begin their first qualifying phase on Tuesday afternoon against Albania (kick-off 1pm, Irish time)

Squad in full

Goalkeepers: Leah Coen Hayes (Cork City), Emma Ring (Peamount United)

Defenders: Kate Slevin (Galway WFC), Therese Kinnevey (Galway WFC), Shauna Brennan (Galway WFC), Amiee Bates Crosby (Wexford Youths), Chloe McCarthy (Shelbourne), Jenna Slattery (Fairview Rangers)

Midfielders: Olivia Gibson (Cork City), Aoibheann Clancy (Limerick FC), Della Doherty (Peamount United), Muireann Devaney (Sligo Rovers), Kate O’Dowd (Sligo Rovers), Ellen Molloy (Thomastown United)

Forwards: Aoife Horgan (Limerick FC), Rebecca Watkins (Peamount United), Orlagh Fitzpatrick (Peamount United) Erin McLoughlin (Sea Rovers), Kerry Brown (Sion Swifts), Laura Shine (Wilton United)