First Ireland senior call-up for Bohemians teenager Brennan as Agg and Ziu return
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REPUBLIC OF IRELAND head coach Carla Ward has named a 24-player squad for the crucial 2027 World Cup qualifying double-header against Poland.
Bohemians teenage midfielder Aoibhe Brennan receives her first senior call-up, while Lily Agg returns after a long spell out.
Jess Ziu, similarly, is recalled after enduring a torrid time with injury, while Denise O’Sullivan is back after missing Ireland’s last qualifier with a knee issue.
Brennan had been named in the U19 Ireland squad for their upcoming qualifiers, but instead links up with the senior team. Ward has often name-checked the 18-year-old, and recently watched her impress in the League of Ireland Women’s Premier Division.
“I’ve spoken about her a few times since I’ve taken over,” Ward told a press conference at FAI HQ this afternoon.
“The development game back in February last year, she really impressed me. I remember walking away and saying to the staff that she was someone I really liked. I’ve watched her a lot since. She does the basics very, very well, and she plays well beyond her years. I’d be really interested to see how she would do in this environment.”
Our WNT Squad to take on Poland in two huge 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers ☘️Make sure you’re with us at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, April 18th 👉 https://t.co/Axn5db64WN pic.twitter.com/bAXXTGTUcv— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) March 30, 2026
Agg has recovered from an ACL injury and subsequent cancer diagnosis, and the 32-year-old midfielder is recalled for the first time since late 2024 despite limping off after scoring her first goal for loan club Durham yesterday.
Agg is one of several players included that are carrying niggles: Jessie Stapleton went off injured in the same game yesterday, and both are awaiting scan results. Chloe Mustaki and Grace Moloney have been absent from recent matchday squads with their clubs.
“All being well, Lily will be reunited,” said Ward. “She was absolutely delighted when we spoke on Saturday to tell her the news. She can just bring a different type of energy, a different profile in midfield.
“I think we’ve had similar players in the middle where, if you wanted to change tact, now we have the option to. We’ve gone with additional players in the middle because of the fact that we might need different things for different moments in the games.”
O’Sullivan’s return is a major boost after the Liverpool midfield maestro was ruled out of the second 2-1 defeat to Netherlands, three days after opening their campaign with the same scoreline at home to France.
“Hindsight is a wonderful thing, isn’t it,” said Ward, when asked if her presence could have helped secure a result. “We know how important Denise is, she’s a world-class individual. I knew she was good, but working with her you realise just how good she is and the quality she brings. So, naturally, she’s a huge loss to any team.
“But the players that played were outstanding and deserve an awful lot of credit. We’re starting to show that we can compete. It was a tough one to take, and it hurt. It was difficult not to take points away, but we have to use that now, we have to use that as fuel, use that energy to go into these next two games.”
Ireland head coach Carla Ward speaking at her squad announcement press conference. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Ward has stuck with the remainder of her squad from the opening window. Jamie Finn and Tara O’Hanlon drop out, while Hayley Nolan, Heather Payne and Izzy Atkinson remain on the injury list.
Ireland travel to Gdańsk first on Tuesday, 14 April, before welcoming the Poles to Aviva Stadium the following Saturday afternoon.
With a play-off guaranteed, a third-place finish would secure a semi-final against League C opposition, rather than B. Poland hold the upper hand in the race after their draw with Netherlands. Nina Patalon’s side, spearheaded by Barcelona striker Ewa Pajor, are 24th in the world rankings – three places above Ireland.
Ireland are happy to carry the World Cup hopes of a nation after last Heimir Hallgrímsson’s side bowed out of the play-offs to Czechia last week.
“I was absolutely gutted the other night, as I’m sure everybody was,” said Ward. “But look, I think what Heimir’s done in terms of turning things around and the way he’s reconnected the nation with the men’s national team is something that I think should be celebrated.
“He’s done a lot of work behind the scenes, I see it every single day. I work very closely with him. I think if anyone had deserved it after the last few years, it would have been him.”
Ireland squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton FC), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic), Grace Moloney (Sunderland).
Defenders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal FC), Anna Patten (Aston Villa FC), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), Aoife Mannion (Newcastle United), Jessie Stapleton (Nottingham Forest – loan), Chloe Mustaki (Nottingham Forest).
Midfielders: Denise O’Sullivan (Liverpool), Tyler Toland (Durham), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Marissa Sheva (Sunderland), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Ruesha Littlejohn (Crystal Palace), Jess Ziu (West Ham United), Lily Agg (Durham), Aoibhe Brennan (Bohemians).
Forwards: Saoirse Noonan (Celtic FC), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Leanne Kiernan (Nottingham Forest – loan), Emily Murphy (Newcastle United), Kyra Carusa (Kansas City Current – loan), Amber Barrett (Strasbourg).
Fixture details
Poland v Republic of Ireland
Fifa Women’s World Cup European Qualifier
Tuesday, 14 April | Gdansk Stadium | 5pm (Irish Time)
Republic of Ireland v Poland
Fifa Women’s World Cup European Qualifier
Saturday, 18 April | Aviva Stadium | 3pm.
- Updated 3pm with quotes from Carla Ward’s press conference.
