The squad includes a first senior international call-up for U19 captain Savannah McCarthy of Galway while Wexford Youths left back Ciara Rossiter, who made her debut against the USA in May, returns to the squad. Both have been drafted in as potential replacements for Florida State’s Megan Campbell who is unavailable due to exams. Her college team-mate Megan Connolly, who was part of the squad at the Istria Cup last March, is also unavailable because of university commitments. College commitments have also ruled out Ciara Grant but Siobhan Killeen returns after missing the win in Portugal for the same reason.
After losing their opening fixture of campaign at home to Finland in September, the side bounced back with a hard-fought but well deserved victory away to Portugal last month and Ronan is looking for her squad to build on that result against top seeds Spain who opened their account with a win away to Finland in October.
“We have a great opportunity to put ourselves right in the mix for first place in the group by winning this game and we will be looking to take all three points. We played against Finland but didn’t take any chances we created so I was delighted that we got two goals in Portugal,” said Ronan.
“We played Spain last April in a friendly before they went to the World Cup and while we lost 1-0 we did play well and should have got a draw but the Spanish referee disallowed a perfectly good goal by Louise Quinn near the end.
“It is unfortunate that academic commitments mean both Megan Campbell and Megan Connolly are unavailable but I have been impressed by the form shown in recent weeks by Ciara Rossiter and Savannah McCarthy and had no hesitation including them in the squad. It will be a good experience for Savannah who is still with the U19 squad and an opportunity for her to see at first hand what is required at senior international level,” added Ronan.
A full schedule of televised Europa Cup matches on Thursday week has meant the game has had to be fixed for 2pm but a promotional campaign among schools means groups from as far away as Cork will be travelling to Tallaght to support the side and also experience the Continental Tyres Fan Zone which will be open before the game and at half-time.
Republic of Ireland Squad (v Spain)
Goalkeepers: Emma Byrne (Arsenal), Grace Moloney (Reading), Niamh Reid Burke (Shelbourne).
Defenders: Meabh De Burca (Galway), Niamh Fahey (Chelsea), Savannah McCarthy (Galway), Sophie Perry (Brighton & Hove Albion), Louise Quinn (Eskilstuna United), Ciara Rossiter (Wexford Youths),
Midfielders: Diane Caldwell (Avaldsnes), Karen Duggan (UCD Waves), Ruesha Littlejohn (Celtic), Grace Murray (Shelbourne), Denise O’Sullivan (Glasgow City),
Forwards: Carol Breen (Wexford Youths), Siobhan Killeen (Shelbourne), Katie McCabe (Shelbourne), Julie Ann Russell (UCD Waves), Aine O’Gorman (UCD Waves), Claire O’Riordan (Wexford Youths), Stephanie Roche (Sunderland), Clare Shine (Glasgow City).