Ireland face Georgia in Gori on Monday evening as competition heats up for 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying.
This is a rearranged fixture from September 17, 2021, when COVID restrictions were in place. It was agreed that Ireland would host Georgia on November 30, 2021and then travel to Georgia in June, 2022.
"We have a full squad to choose from, with no injuries” said Ireland manager Vera Pauw.”That is a huge credit to our backroom staff because players came in from different situations regarding their fitness and whether they were in season or in pre-season. But we have worked hard to build up their fitness during a training camp in Turkey”.
"We feel that we are ready for this game against Georgia. It is a very important game for us with the three points being our target” added Pauw. “We know what we have to do and we will have a game-plan that will take everything into account”.
”People should not expect the same situation from when we played Georgia last year because they were missing some players and they are also playing at home in this game. But we are ready; we have trained hard, prepared well and we will go out to win the game."
Pauw reports that all players are fit and available for selection.
Republic of Ireland WNT Squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Megan Walsh (Brighton & Hove Albion), Grace Moloney (Reading), Naoisha McAloon (Durham)
Defenders: Jess Ziu (Shelbourne), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Diane Caldwell (Manchester United), Claire O’Riordan (MSV Duisburg), Jessie Stapleton (Shelbourne), Éabha O’Mahony (Boston College), Áine O’Gorman (Peamount United), Chloe Mustaki (Shelbourne)
Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ruesha Littlejohn (Aston Villa), Jamie Finn (Birmingham City), Ciara Grant (Hearts), Lily Agg (London City Lionesses), Roma McLaughlin (Connecticut Fusion), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City)
Forwards: Heather Payne (Florida State University), Amber Barrett (FC Koln), Abbie Larkin (Shelbourne), Stephanie Roche (Peamount United), Saoirse Noonan (Shelbourne)
Georgia v Republic of Ireland
FIFA Women's World Cup Qualifying Round - Group A
KO 17:00 (20:00 Local Time)
Tengiz Burjanadze Stadium, Gori
Referee: Meliz Özçiğdem (Turkey)