The Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team will be at home to Belgium at the Aviva tomorrow night in first leg of their Promotion /Relegation play. The second leg will be played at the Den Dreef Stadium in Leuven next Tuesday. After finishing their UEFA Nations League group campaign level on points with Slovenia in League, the Girls in Green now go into this playoff with Belgium, who are seven places ahead of them in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings. The winners are competing for a place in League A, which could aid either team’s quest to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Injuries rule out goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan, defender Megan Connolly, midfielder Lily Agg and forward Leanne Kiernan while the experienced Megan Campbell announced her retirement last week. Defender Anna Patten, although selected in the squad will be unavailable for the first leg as she is suspended. Midfielders Jamie Finn and Jess Ziu return to the squad, while 19-year-old goalkeeper Katie Keane earns a senior call-up following her recent move to Leicester City and a brief loan spell with Sheffield United.
Shamrock Rovers defender Maria Reynolds and Athlone Town forward Kelly Brady will both link up with the squad for training sessions at the FAI National Training Centre following impressive seasons in the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division. Denise O’Sullivan, who has won 125 caps is the most experienced player in the squad, but Katie McCabe should win her 100th cap in the leg next Tuesday. This will be the Irish Women’s fifth game at the Aviva and Irish supporters will be hoping for a better result than on their last visit to the Ballsbridge venue in December last year when they lost a Euro play-off to Wales.
