Vera Pauw has revealed that Marie Hourihan is no longer Ireland’s first choice goalkeeper and competition is open for the number one jersey.
Hourihan whose mother hails from Frenchpark, Co. Roscommon had been Ireland’s first choice goalkeeper since the retirement of Emma Byrne.
“Grace Moloney played against Germany and at that point Maire was not the first choice goalkeeper” explained Pauw.
“We’ll see what happens this week, we want to make a choice as we want to have stability in the goalkeeper situation” added Pauw.
Pauw has narrowed down the Ireland Women's squad ahead of international friendly games against Denmark and Belgium.
Injuries rule out Megan Campbell, Leanne Kiernan and Clare Shine, while goalkeeper Niamh Reid-Burke retired from international football, Julie-Ann Russell and Nicole Douglas cannot travel due to COVID restrictions and Harriet Scott is undertaking exams.
A number of players from the original provisional list are on standby, while DLR Waves goalkeeper Eve Badana will join the squad for sessions at the FAI National Training Centre.
There are also invites extended to the quartet of defender Florence Gamby (London Bees), midfielders Lily Agg (London City Lionesses) and Emily Murphy (Birmingham City), and forward Aoife Colvill (Glasgow City), who are eligible to declare for Ireland but will not be part of the match-day squad for this camp.
The squad all report into camp on Sunday, April 4th. Live coverage of the two games will be announced in due course.
Republic of Ireland WNT Squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (West Ham United), Marie Hourihan (SC Braga), Grace Moloney (Reading)
Defenders: Keeva Keenan (Celtic), Claire O'Riordan (MSV Duisburg), Louise Quinn (Fiorentina), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Diane Caldwell (North Carolina Courage), Claire Walsh (Peamount United), Niamh Farrelly (Glasgow City), Áine O'Gorman (Peamount United)
Midfielders: Megan Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), Denise O'Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Ellen Molloy (Wexford Youths), Jamie Finn (Shelbourne), Hayley Nolan (London City Lionesses), Ruesha Littlejohn (Birmingham City), Emily Whelan (Shelbourne), Alli Murphy (London City Lionesses), Katie McCabe (Arsenal)
Forwards: Rianna Jarrett (Brighton & Hove Albion), Amber Barrett (FC Koln), Heather Payne (Florida State University), Kyra Carusa (HB Hoge)
Republic of Ireland v Denmark
International Friendly
Thursday, April 8
Tallaght Stadium, KO 18:30
Belgium v Republic of Ireland
International Friendly
Sunday, April 11
King Baudouin Stadium, KO 18:30
