Bohemians pair Chloe Darby and Alannah Maxwell join Limerick FC's Alannah Mitchell in receiving a first-time call-up for an Irish squad as they face their Austrian opponents at Home Farm FC (August 29) and FAI National Training Centre, Abbotstown (September 1).
Speaking about his selection the Women’s Under-19 Head Coach said: “It’s a mixture of some experienced players with three first-time call ups in Chloe Darby, Alannah Mitchell and Alannah Maxwell. I’m delighted for those girls – they have been doing well in and around their clubs.
“We’re down a few players who are on scholarships in the United States and I haven’t brought them in, but it gives an opportunity for other players to come in and stake a claim.”
The friendlies are part of the squad’s preparation towards the UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship Qualifiers in the Netherlands in October where Connell’s side will take on the Dutch, Ukraine and Montenegro.
Connell said next week’s friendlies are important as part of the player’s development ahead of the qualifiers. He said: “We’ve played Austria a couple of times and we’ve a decent enough record against them. They’re a team who are very physical and have players who play in good structures involving a lot of football and training time. It will be tough, they will be fit, they will be well organised and we’re expecting two tough games.
“We’re looking for continuity ahead of the European Qualifiers, it’s always good to win games because it gives you that bit of confidence. We’ll look to play well, I think it’s well known we like to attack and we’re cautious at the back but it’s important we get our players into good goal-scoring positions to give us those opportunities to win games.”
Republic of Ireland Squad
Goalkeepers: Rachael Kelly (Shelbourne), Maeve Williams (Wexford Youths).
Defenders: Alannah Maxwell (Bohemians), Zara Foley (Cork City), Roisin McGovern (DLR Waves), Leah Brady (Galway), Kelsey Munroe (Galway), Alannah Mitchell (Limerick FC),
Midfielders: Chloe Darby (Bohemians), Nadine Clare (DLR Waves), Sinead Donovan (Galway), Niamh Reynolds (Reading), Rebecca Cooke (Shelbourne), Jessica Ziu (Shelbourne), Mia Dodd (Shelbourne), Aoife Slattery (Wexford Youths).
Forwards: Sophie Liston (Cork City), Izzy Atkinson (Shelbourne), Alannah McEvoy (Shelbourne), Emily Whelan (Shelbourne)
Results
UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championships
03/04: Hungary 0-4 Ireland
06/04: Ireland 4-0 Serbia
09/04: Ireland 0-3 Spain
Fixtures
International friendlies
29/09: Ireland v Austria, KO 4pm, Home Farm FC
01/09: Ireland v Austria, KO 3pm, FAI Headquarters, Abbotstown
UEFA Women’s Under-19 Championship Qualifiers
02/10: Ukraine v Ireland, KO 2pm, Sportpark Zegersloot, Alphen aan den Rijn
05/10: Ireland v Montenegro, KO 12pm, Sportpark Juliana, 's-Gravenzande
08/10: Ireland v The Netherlands, KO 6pm, Sportpark Juliana, 's-Gravenzande
Social media
Team: #IRLWU19
Game: #IRLAUT