Denise O’Sullivan and Megan Connolly called up for Nations League double header
Denise O'Sullivan of Republic of Ireland celebrates after scoring her side's first goal during the 2025 UEFA Women's European Championship qualifying group A match between Republic of Ireland and France at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Denise O’Sullivan and Megan Connolly will be the lone representatives of the Rebel County in the Republic of Ireland WNT squad for upcoming UEFA Women’s Nations League games with Turkey and Slovenia.
The Girls in Green will face the Crescent Stars on February 21st at Tallaght Stadium and they will play in Eastern Europe four days later.
The biggest absence from the squad is striker Saoirse Noonan, who has 21 goals for Celtic in 17 appearances between various competitions in Scotland and the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
The selection of players called up for international duty will work under new manager Carla Ward, who replaced Eileen Gleeson after the defeat to Wales in the Euro 2025 play-off round.
The most striking addition to the group called up by the former Aston Villa and Birmingham City coach is new face Melisa Filis, who plays her club football with Charlton Athletic.
The England underage international operates in the middle of the park and her medal collection includes a FA Women’s Super League title with Arsenal.
Filis is expected to operate alongside O’Sullivan, who is out-of-season as North Carolina Courage play through the summer over the nature of the United States’ NWSL.
Connolly is in the middle of her first campaign in Italy with Lazio after moving to the Eternal City from Bristol City last summer.
The Eagles are currently resting in midtable in Serie A and they were recently beaten by Juventus in the quarter finals of the Italian Women’s Cup.
Lazio lost the first leg to Juventus 3-1, and it looked like the team was going to pull off a famous comeback when they raced into a 3-0 half-time lead in the return leg in Turin.
The Old Lady hit-back with late goals from Emma Kulberg, on a night that saw Connolly fielded as a centre back.
The Turner’s Cross native will be in an Ireland squad this month that is without Lily Agg, who declares for Ireland through her Cobh born grandmother, as she is sidelined with an ACL injury picked up while playing for Birmingham City.
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic), Grace Moloney (Unattached).
Defenders: Heather Payne (Everton), Jessie Stapleton (Sunderland - on loan from West Ham United), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Aoife Mannion (Manchester United), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), Megan Campbell (London City Lionesses), Katie McCabe (Arsenal).
Midfielders: Denise O'Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Ruesha Littlejohn (Unattached), Marissa Sheva (Unattached), Melisa Filis (Charlton Athletic) Forwards: Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Izzy Atkinson (Crystal Palace), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Emily Murphy (Newcastle United)
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