Eileen Gleeson, the manager of the Republic of Ireland’s women’s football team, had enlisted a squad of 26 players for the forthcoming Euro 2025 qualifiers – the matches being against France on Friday and England the following Tuesday. Over the weekend, 22 of these players were in action for their respective clubs, ensuring Gleeson kept a close watch for any potential injury complications.
Liverpool’s skipper, Niamh Fahey, unfortunately appears to be the only player unlikely to partake in the qualifier games due to a calf injury that could keep her side-lined for several weeks. Fahey was not part of Liverpool’s team during their 4-1 defeat to Manchester City in the Women’s Super League last Saturday.
One player who certainly had her physical and emotional limits tested more than others was Katie McCabe of Arsenal. McCabe was seen winning her third League Cup medal after a challenging victory against Chelsea in extra time. This sensational match before a record crowd of 21,462 spectators at Molineux was temporarily marred by a medical emergency. Frida Maanum, McCabe’s fellow Arsenal teammate, was attended to by medics and taken off the field after she collapsed in the final moments of the match. Fortunately, it was later confirmed that Maanum was in stable condition.
Looking ahead to the forthcoming matches, Gleeson might choose a formation comprising three centre-backs, with Louise Quinn and Caitlin Hayes likely to occupy two of these positions. Quinn, having recently recovered from a shoulder injury, played another full match in Birmingham’s 3-1 loss to Charlton. On the other hand, Hayes added to her impressive tally of 11 league goals by scoring for Celtic in their 2-1 victory over Glasgow City – a result that took them just a point shy of the top spot in the Scottish Premier League.
Aoife Mannion made her comeback for Manchester United in their 4-1 victory against Everton, marking her first game since last April. Meanwhile, Aston Villa’s recent addition, Anna Patten, continued her consistent run playing in their 2-2 standoff against Leicester. In Switzerland, Diane Caldwell played for FC Zurich in their triumph against FC Rapperswil-Jona; the 1-0 victory keeps them in a promising position for the Swiss title. Jessie Stapleton was part of the Reading team that suffered a 4-1 defeat to Tyler Toland’s Blackburn Rovers – these four players are likely contenders for the third place in Ireland’s defence. Amber Barrett, on the other hand, will join the international team on a high note having scored a brace for Standard Liege in their game against Brugge on Saturday. With a total of 14 goals this season, the Donegal-born’s recent performance strengthens her and Claire O’Riordan’s chances of finishing this Super League as winners.