To us this comes as no surprise but today Amanda McQuillan was called up to the Women’s senior team.  Congratulations Amanda on another terrific milestones in your football journey.

Bell selects Republic of Ireland WNT squad for Cyprus Cup

Ireland will play against Czech Republic, Hungary and Wales.

Colin Bell has named 20 players in the Republic of Ireland Women’s Senior Team squad for the 2017 Cyprus Cup tournament, which kicks off on Wednesday, March 1.

The tournament will be Bell’s first involvement with the team since being appointed as the new Head Coach. The 55-year-old, who led FFC Frankfurt to UEFA Women’s Champions League glory in 2015, is excited to get started.

“The Cyprus Cup is the ideal start for me. Through its intensity I will have the opportunity to see how the squad react, on and off the pitch, in a difficult situation. Four competitive matches in a week is tough for any team,” said Bell.

“The focus in training can only be of a technical and tactical nature, plus recovery. This means that I will prioritise important elements of my philosophy without overloading the girls with too much information.

“One of these priorities will be team building/interaction between player-player and staff-player. For me, I will be looking to get as much information as I need for my players, and study the other teams during this tournament.

“The Cyprus Cup is from Day One the start of the road to France 2019. That is an important fact that I will be making clear throughout the tournament.”

Depending on results, Ireland could advance from Group C and go all the way to the final. However, they will be in action regardless on the last day of the tournament on Wednesday, March 8 with a number of play-offs being hosted.

Bell’s squad is made up of familiar faces, including Ireland’s most capped women’s senior international in goalkeeper Emma Byrne, who recently left Arsenal Ladies after 17 years to join Brighton & Hove Women.

Also making the cut are three representatives from Continental Tyres Women’s National League champions Shelbourne Ladies in Amanda McQuillan, Roma McLaughlin, and Leanne Kiernan. Overall, there are seven home-based players included in the squad.

The tournament will act as the perfect warm-up to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers which kick off in September. The draw for that qualification campaign will be made in Nyon on Tuesday, April 25.

Ireland are also lining up a number of friendly games, including the visit of Slovakia to Tallaght Stadium on Monday, April 10. But, firstly, all the focus will be on the Cyprus Cup. 

Republic of Ireland WNT Squad
Goalkeepers: Emma Byrne (Brighton & Hove Albion), Amanda McQuillan (Shelbourne Ladies)
Defenders: Sophie Perry (Brighton & Hove Albion), Jetta Berrill (UCD Waves), Diane Caldwell (SC Sand), Louise Quinn (Unattached), Megan Campbell (Manchester City Women), Savannah McCarthy (Glasgow City)
Midfielders: Julie-Ann Russell, Karen Duggan (UCD Waves), Katie McCabe (Arsenal Ladies), Denise O’Sullivan (Houston Dash), Roma McLaughlin (Shelbourne Ladies), Ruesha Littlejohn (Celtic FC Women), Megan Connolly (Florida State University)
Forwards: Stephanie Roche (Sunderland Ladies), Aine O’Gorman (UCD Waves), Noelle Murray, Clare Shine (Glasgow City), Leanne Kiernan (Shelbourne Ladies)

Fixtures
Wednesday, March 1: Republic of Ireland v Czech Republic, KO 12:30 (Irish time)
Friday, March 3: Republic of Ireland v Hungary, KO 15:30 (Irish time)
Monday, March 6: Republic of Ireland v Wales, KO 12:30 (Irish time)
Wednesday, March 8: TBC

Well done to Amanda McQuillian and Shelbourne on winning the FAI Continental Tyres Women’s Senior Cup today in the Aviva.  Amanda kept a clean sheet in goals today that helped insure Shelbournes 0-5 win today.

Match Report below

Shelbourne Ladies lifted the Continental Tyres Women’s Senior Cup after a devastating display to claim a 5-0 win over Wexford Youths. 

Leanne Kiernan notched an excellent hat-trick and goals from Noelle Murray and an own goal from Wexford keeper Sophie Lenehan saw Shels avenge last year’s Cup final defeat.

Shels were dominant throughout the game and should have gone ahead from the penalty spot just 13 minutes into the game. Kiernan was taken down inside the area by Wexford captain Nicola Sinnott but keeper Lenehan guessed right and saved a poor penalty, low to the keeper’s left.

Mark Leavy’s side continued to press forward and went ahead on the half-hour. Lenehan failed to collect a right-sided corner and the ball fell for the excellent Noelle Murray to scoop the ball home.

Four minutes later, Shels doubled their lead. Gloria Douglas was able to round her defender on the half-way line and picked out the run of Kiernan to race through on goal and round the keeper to score.

Three minutes before the break, Wexford almost found a way back into the game as Emma Hansberry got past Niamh Walsh and curled the ball towards the bottom corner but Amanda McQuillan saved brilliantly.

Just before half-time, Shels made it three. Murray found an excellent through-ball to put Kiernan in on goal who once again, rounded the keeper and slotted home.

Three minutes after the break, Wexford were denied again as Aoibhin Webb had a close range effort brilliantly saved as Shels went on to stretch their lead in the second half.

Gloria Douglas’ header hit the bar but the ball looped over keeper McQuillan and the Wexford keeper was able to prevent the ball from going in to make it 4-0.

Kiernan claimed an excellent hat-trick from the penalty spot 12 minutes from time after Jess Gleeson fouled Kiernan in the area. Kiernan stepped up and found the top corner with an excellent penalty to round off a great Cup final for the Republic of Ireland U19 international. 

Shelbourne Ladies manager Mark Leavy said: “It was a fantastic display and the team thoroughly deserve this moment.

“The players have worked so hard throughout the course of the season and they really showed what they can do today. We’ve worked on a lot of things this season and looked to improve and the players have responded brilliantly to it.

“We want to keep it going now. We’ve got a number of difficult games coming up in the league and we need to use this victory as momentum to go in the league.”