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\n Emma Duffy<\/p>\n
AS THE 2027 Women\u2019s World Cup group qualifying phase nears its conclusion, Carla Ward is due to name her latest Ireland squad on Friday morning.<\/p>\n
Ireland welcome Netherlands to P\u00e1irc U\u00ed Chaoimh on Friday 5 June, before rounding out with a trip to Grenoble to face France four days later, on Tuesday 9 June.<\/p>\n
The Girls In Green are third in Group A2 after a crucial double win over Poland last month, and with a seeded play-off all but guaranteed, the group is wide open.\u00a0<\/p>\n
How our group table looks following yesterday\u2019s action\u2026<\/p>\n
A big June window to come with games against The Netherlands and France \ud83d\udcaa pic.twitter.com\/AcRoZYOwyK<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ireland Football \u26bd\ufe0f\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea (@IrelandFootball) April 19, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n Here are three talking points ahead of tomorrow\u2019s squad announcement.\u00a0<\/p>\n 1. What can we expect?<\/p>\n Ward has stayed relatively consistent with her squad selection and starting teams, barring injury. That is likely to remain the case as the campaign reaches its business end.<\/p>\n The head coach has named the same forwards in both squads, and only been forced into defensive changes due to injury. Hayley Nolan and Jessie Stapleton dropped out of the respective panels, with Tara O\u2019Hanlon and Shamrock Rovers\u2019 Maria Reynolds replacing them. Nolan has since returned to fitness to help Crystal Palace win WSL 2, but Stapleton hasn\u2019t featured since March so remains a doubt.<\/p>\n Midfield has seen the most change from squad to squad: Jamie Finn was initially dropped for the second selection, with Lily Agg due to return alongside Jess Ziu, and Bohemians teenager Aoibhe Brennan earning a first call-up. Agg and Brennan were forced to withdraw through injury, with Finn and another League of Ireland prospect, Aoibheann Clancy, subsequently selected.<\/p>\n While Agg is sidelined with another long-term injury \u2013 and, interestingly, rumoured to be linked with the Athlone Town vacancy \u2013 Brennan has returned to action. Could she get another chance?<\/p>\n Remember, Denise O\u2019Sullivan is suspended for the Netherlands game. More on that below, but familiarity is expected with Katie McCabe and O\u2019Sullivan leading the charge.<\/p>\n 2. Keane for inclusion?<\/p>\n Courtney Brosnan is Ireland\u2019s undoubted number one, but another exciting goalkeeper is emerging from the shadows.\u00a0<\/p>\n Katie Keane has stepped up for Leicester City through the closing stages of the WSL season. The 19-year-old was called upon against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium when first-choice Olivia Clark went off injured at half-time. While the Foxes suffered a heavy defeat, Keane was a bright spark on her debut.\u00a0<\/p>\n Alamy Stock Photo\n<\/p>\n The Meath native again impressed against another heavyweight, Chelsea, while it was a case of Ireland\u2019s future versus present when she fell to a late defeat to Brosnan\u2019s Everton last weekend. Keane may get the nod to face another Irish goalkeeper in Saturday\u2019s WSL play-off, as Leicester look to survive against Sophie Whitehouse and Charlton Athletic.\u00a0<\/p>\n Uncapped Keane has been called up by Ward before, but it feels like she needs to be a more permanent fixture in the GK Union. Whitehouse has been brilliant for Charlton this season, Grace Moloney hasn\u2019t played competitively for Sunderland since February: could we see one drop out to make way for Keane here?<\/p>\n 3. Suspensions \u2013 and other things to keep in mind<\/p>\n O\u2019Sullivan and Emily Murphy are suspended for the Dutch showdown at\u00a0P\u00e1irc U\u00ed Chaoimh after both picking up two yellow cards. It is an unquestionable blow for Ireland to lose two of their best players of the campaign to date. (Katie McCabe and Marissa Sheva are the others on one booking.)<\/p>\n While Abbie Larkin is the obvious replacement for Murphy in the XI, O\u2019Sullivan\u2019s absence brings a bigger headache for Ward. Lucy Quinn struggled while deputising in Utrecht, Ruesha Littlejohn\u2019s inclusion may be in question due to limited minutes, while it could be a big ask to start Jess Ziu on the comeback trail. A rejig may be preferred, but that will all be teased out on the training pitch.\u00a0<\/p>\n Heather Payne is another name back in the general mix after missing most of the season through injury. Dana Scheriff could be another League of Ireland prospect on the radar: the US-born, Irish-eligible striker<\/a> has made a blistering return to Athlone Town with 10 league goals in seven games.\u00a0<\/p>\n With many players now out of season, there will be no shortage of topics for Ward to discuss in her press conference, with the future of McCabe sure to be in the spotlight following her Arsenal exit. Seeing \u2018unattached\u2019 beside her name will be strange.<\/p>\n ![\"liverpool-uk-16th-may-2026-katie-keane-of-leicester-city-sprints-towards-the-goal-during-the-barclays-womens-league-fixture-between-everton-and-leicester-city-at-goodsion-park-on-may-16th-2026-cr\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779387191_704_.jpeg\")
\n Katie Keane (file photo). Alamy Stock Photo<\/p>\n