Oct 18,2024
Ellen Molloy is back in the Republic of Ireland squad for the first time in two years, while Athlone Town goalkeeper Katie Keane has been handed a first senior call-up.
Molloy moved from Wexford FC to English Championship outfit Sheffield United in September and has hit the ground running, scoring a terrific individual goal for the Blades in a 2-1 win over Birmingham City last weekend.
Midfielder Molloy last appeared for Ireland in the World Cup qualifier away to Slovakia in September 2022 but suffered a devastating ACL injury soon after that match that halted her progress.
Keane is one of the best young keepers in the country, excelling for league champions Athlone who face Shelbourne in Sunday's Sports Direct FAI Cup final on Sunday. She has also been consistently impressive for the Ireland Under-19s, producing a heroic display in their 0-0 draw against Spain in the summer's European Championships.
Elsewhere Heather Payne and Kyra Carusa return having missed the last camp with injuries, while Cork City's Evan Mangan is again included.
Injuries rule out Megan Campbell (ankle), Jess Ziu (knee), Ruesha Littlejohn (Achilles) and Jamie Finn (knee), while Emily Murphy is unavailable.
The Girls in Green travel to Tbilisi to take on Georgia in the first leg of their play-off semi-final on Friday week, and then welcome them to Tallaght the following Tuesday for the return leg.
First-choice stopper Courtney Brosnan is suspended for the first leg due and will link up with the squad in Dublin.
Georgia are ranked 118th in the world, 94 places below Ireland.
The countries faced each other during qualification for the 2023 World Cup. Ireland - then managed by Vera Pauw - demolished their opponents 11-0 in Tallaght and then beat them 9-0 in Gori.
Republic of Ireland squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (London City Lionesses), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic), Katie Keane (Athlone Town)
Defenders: Jessie Stapleton (Sunderland, on loan from West Ham United), Diane Caldwell (FC Zurich), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Aoife Mannion (Manchester United), Caitlin Hayes (Celtic), Anna Patten (Aston Villa)
Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O'Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Lily Agg (Birmingham City), Ellen Molloy (Sheffield United), Heather Payne (Everton), Izzy Atkinson (Crystal Palace), Eva Mangan (Cork City)
Forwards: Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Julie-Ann Russell (Galway United), Marissa Sheva (Portland Thorns)
