The Republic of Ireland national women’s team are back in action this weekend and they will need maximum points from their two final group games in the Nations League, away to Turkey tomorrow night and against Slovenia in Cork on Tuesday next, to qualify for the top 16 European nations in next year’s World Cup qualifiers. Manager Carla Ward has named soon to be retired Louise Quinn in the Irish squad for both games. Quinn announced her retirement last month after a 21-year club career that included 121 caps for Ireland, but the 31-year-old Wicklow-born defender said she wants to play one more time for her country.
Manager Ward has also included the uncapped Erin Healy after the San Diego-born striker scored eight goals for Adelaide United in this season’s Australian A-League. Healy said: “I have never been to Ireland. It would be super cool to play for them to represent my grandfather, who hailed from County Monaghan, that would be awesome. I’ve heard Ireland has a great fan base and I don’t know if I have played before that many fans. My grandpa grew up in Ireland and came to the U.S. So my mum is an Irish citizen, which allowed me to be as well. Around when I graduated we decided to start the process.’’
Ward said her scouts have been watching Healy and expects that she will be playing in England next season. Injuries have ruled out Heather Payne and Leanne Kiernan, while Tara O’Hanlon, Jamie Finn, Lily Agg and Jess Ziu continue to recover from long-term injuries. Shelbourne’s Aoibheann Clancy and Shamrock Rovers midfielder Ruesha Littlejohn are the only League of Ireland players in a 24-strong squad that includes 13 players born outside Ireland, seven from England, five Americans and Littlejohn who was born in Scotland. Next Tuesday’s game in Cork will be the Irish women’s second game at Pairc Ui Chaoimh, where they beat France 3-1 last year, but admittedly that was a weakened French team, who had already qualified for the Euro finals.
McCabe helps Gunners win CL
Irish international Katie McCabe played her part for Arsenal as the Gunners stunned holders Barcelona to win the UEFA Women’s Champions League final in Lisbon on Saturday. The Republic of Ireland captain started at left back and featured for the full 90 minutes plus as Stina Blackstenius’s 74th minute goal sealed a 1-0 victory at Estadio Jose Alvalade and ensured that Arsenal tasted European glory for the second time in their history and first time since 2007 when Irish trio Emma Byrne, Ciara Grant and Yvonne Tracy were part of the winning squad.
After the game McCabe, draped in an Irish tricolor, said: ‘‘When I first came to the club I was a young naive kid that came over from Dublin and Fara Williams, Emma Mitchell and Emma Byrne took me under their wing right from the very start. They taught me what it meant to be a professional footballer and play for Arsenal and wear the badge and here I am. It’s just an unbelievable feeling. I am a Champions League winner, we all are.’’
After the game McCabe linked up with her Irish colleagues for the trip to Istanbul to play Turkey in the Nations League qualifier on Friday. Arsenal had previously won the competition in 2007 when it was known as the UEFA Women’s Cup final.
