Friendly
24.08.2011 at 15:00 - Richmond Park
It has been a full year since the Republic of Ireland Women's team played a competitive match but Head Coach Sue Ronan wants this evening's friendly against Switzerland at Richmond Park (7.30pm) to be as near qualifier pace as possible.
Ireland begin their 2013 UEFA European Championship qualification series on September 17 by facing Wales in Newport and hosting top seeds in the five-nation group France five days later at Turner's Cross in Cork. That's why this warm-up game against a top Switzerland will act as a dry-run for that campaign opener.
Ronan said: "We've been able to work on a few things in training this week with a view to next month's qualifiers. The squad have been involved in training camps with us in recent months but this game against a very strong Switzerland will be the real test.
"We have a mixture in our squad. Some of the players are young, especially those that played at the Under-17 World Cup last year and we've others who are much more experienced.
"We've also taken some in from the wilderness after being out of the squad for a while. I'll be really interested in see if the younger girls can step up to this senior level.
"Only 18 will be picked for the Wales qualifier, so places are up for grabs."
Ireland's top scorer from the last campaign, Fiona O'Sullivan, should feature tonight. The American striker, who grabbed all three goals of the concluding World Cup qualifying 3-0 win over Israel in September 2010, is now with Swedish outfit Piteå IF.
Sisters Shannon and Mary-Therese McDonnell of Chicago Red Stars are also set to be involved and there's the Arsenal cohort of Emma Byrne, Niamh Fahey, Yvonne Tracy and team captain Ciara Grant.
Striker Denise O'Sullivan is the sole absentee from Ronan's 24-player squad after the Cork player was forced to withdraw with a knee injury.
Republic of Ireland squad: Emma Byrne - Arsenal FC, Niamh Reid-Burke - Raheny United FC, Ciara Grant - Arsenal FC, Yvonne Tracy - Arsenal FC, Niamh Fahey - Arsenal FC, Diane Caldwell - Thor/KA FC, Shannon McDonnell - Chicago Red Stars FC, Mary Therese McDonnell - Chicago Red Stars FC, Fiona O'Sullivan - Pitea IF, Shannon Smyth - Amazon Grimstad FK, Meabh de Burca - Boston Aztec FC, Aine O'Gorman - Doncaster Belles FC, Louise Quinn - Peamount United FC, Sonya Hughes - Glebe North FC, Marie Curtin - Kilmallock FC, Karen Duggan - Peamount United, Stephanie Roche - Peamount United, Julie-Ann Russell - Peamount United, Grace Murray - Peamount United, Dora Gorman - Salthill Devon FC, Megan Campbell - Raheny United FC, Mary Waldron - St. Catherine's FC, Jenny Critchley - Salthill Devon FC.
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