McQuillan and McAloone in Irish squad

Meath players Amanda McQuillan and Naoishe McAloone have been included in the Republic of Ireland senior women's squad for a friendly against the Basque Country on Saturday 26th November. 

Both are goalkeepers and familiar with the demands of international football with McQuillan going into the game on the back of a recent 5-0 triumph over Wexford Youths with her club Shelbourne in the Women's Senior FAI Cup final at the Aviva Stadium.

Twice nominated for the Meath Chronicle/Cusack Hotel Group 'Young Sportsperson of the Year' award, McQuillan, who is from Johnstown, recently helped the Irish u-19s to a 10-0 victory over FYR Macedonia in the first of three UEFA European Championship qualifying games. Ireland went on to top their group. 

Earlier this year McQuillan was presented with the u-17 'Women's International Player-of-the-Year' award at the 2016 FAI international awards. 

McAloone is from Ratoath and last year was involved with the Irish u-17 team that put in a series of impressive displays in the qualifying group for the Elite round of the UEFA European Championships. 

The Irish team is managed by Sue Ronan who has guided the fortunes of the  the women's national team for six years but the game against the Basque Country will be her final game as Irish boss before concentrating on her role as the Head of Women’s Football within the FAI. 

“As the Women’s Senior Cup final and the recent performances by our underage squads in the Euros  showed, the standard in the Women’s National League and indeed in our underage leagues around the country continues to improve, so I’ve named 13 home-based players in this squad to reflect that. 

“Unfortunately some others were unavailable due to work/holiday commitments, one or two of whom I really would have liked to see play at this level, but it gives a chance to some of the young players to get a little taste.  I'm also able to call on Denise O’Sullivan and Stephanie Roche again, both of who unfortunately missed the Portugal game in September - they bring a lot of experience to the squad,' commented Ronan.  

'This will be a tough game against the Basque Country with many of their players also representing the Spanish national team, who we’re very familiar with after our recent qualifying campaign. Between that and the fact we also played them in a friendly in May 2014 we know a bit about them and know it’s going to be a very good test for us, so having that right balance between youth and experience is very important.'

The Republic of Ireland squad is: 

Goalkeepers: Emma Byrne (Arsenal), Naoishe McAloone, (Peamount United) Amanda McQuillan (Shelbourne)

Defenders: Niamh Fahey (Chelsea WFC), Louise Quinn (Eskilstuna United), Savannah McCarthy (Glasgow City), Meabh De Burca (Galway WFC), Jetta Berrill (UCD Waves), Jess Gleeson (Wexford Youths), Niamh Prior (UCD Waves).

Midfielders: Karen Duggan (UCD Waves), Diane Caldwell (SC Sand), Roma McLaughlin (Peamount United), Alex Kavanagh (Shelbourne), Julie Ann Russell (UCD Waves), Denise O’Sullivan (Houston Dash).

Forwards: Stephanie Roche (Sunderland), Leanne Kiernan (Shelbourne), Aine O’Gorman (UCD Waves), Noelle Murray (Shelbourne).