Details of the Irish women's soccer squad

Emma Byrne (Arsenal)

Well established number one goalkeeper for both club and country, Byrne has won countless honours with Arsenal, including a European cup.

Niamh Fahey (Unattached)

Highly versatile young player who has also All-Ireland honours with Galway. Did well after joining Arsenal last year but apparently declined a new contract after deciding to go to college.

Edel Malone (Hofstra University)

Former “Rookie of the Year” on the US college circuit who came to prominence here when winning two Intermediate cups with Lifford.

Ciara Grant (Arsenal)

Hugely experienced defender/midfielder who captains the Ireland side. Like Byrne, she has won a long list of honours with Arsenal in England having moved there after spells with Benfica (Waterford) and St Patrick’s Athletic.

Stefanie Curtis (Bristol Rovers)

Former Bristol Rovers academy player who has just been signed by Chelsea as part of their bid to close the gap on Arsenal. A left-sided attacker who was Ireland’s leading scorer during the last qualifying campaign.

Yvonne Treacy (Arsenal)

Talented and experienced defender and former under-19 international captain who is making a welcome return after a long lay-off due to injury.

Jemma Connor-Iommi (Birmingham City)

A recent recruit to the squad, Connor-Iommi is a former US scholarship student who can play at either full back or on the wing. On the City website she described her work as a warrant officer in Birmingham as “knocking on offenders’ doors and hoping not to get your head kicked in”.

Diane Caldwell (Hofstra University)

A highly-regarded prospect who can play in defence or midfield, Caldwell is another of the Irish contingent at Hofstra university in Long Island, New York.

Aine O’Gorman (Stella Maris)

Energetic and enthusiastic Wicklow woman who has come through the FAI’s scholarship scheme and is said to have caught the eye of a number of US scouts while in action for her club.

Meabh De Búrca (Salthill Devon)

Another versatile squad member, De Búrca can play in defence of midfield and was a member of the Galway league team that won the FAI Cup in 2008. Currently on a scholarship at the city’s university, she graduated from the Ireland under-19 team last year.

Sonya Hughes (Tolka Rovers/Dundalk)

Having studied and played in the US for several years, Hughes, a prominent member of the Ireland teams at the last two World Student Games, is now back playing in Ireland all year round due to the different timings of some of the leagues here.

Lynn Bradley (Raheny United)

University student who is regarded as a talented goalkeeper, whose first team opportunities have thus far been severely restricted by the presence of Emma Byrne in the squad.

Michele O’Brien (Red Eleven, Chicago)

A centre forward and former FAI Player of the Year, O’Brien has recently moved from New York to Chicago where she is coaching at college level and playing for Red Eleven in the W-League, now the second tier of the American women’s game since the launch of the new professional set up there.

Ciara McCormack (FC Larvik, Norway)

One of the team’s only couple of full-time professionals, Canadian born McCormack is an Oslo-based defender/midfielder who is returning to the set up after a long injury-induced lay-off.

Marie Curtin (Lifford)

Another former scholarship student who has returned home to Ireland, Curtin is now playing her football with Lifford, near Ennis in Clare. Won the FAI Under-18 Player of the Year in 2002 and the American Colleges Soccer Championship with Hofstra in 2005.

Noelle Murray (Raheny United)

Highly regarded striking prospect who came through the Under-19 team ranks and is currently working on the FAI Fas course in Dublin.

Mary T McDonnell (Boston Breakers)

Now a full-time player with the Breakers, McDonnell is a defender who was formerly with Illinois where her sister Shannon also played.

Stephanie Roche (Dundalk)

Young left-sided midfielder/striker from Cabinteely in Dublin who is regarded as having a keen eye for goal.

Selina Moylan (University New Haven)

Right-sided midfielder who has only recently come into the senior squad and has won just one cap to date. Currently studying in the US on a scholarship.

Susan Byrne (St John’s University)

A graduate of the Bohemians boys’ team in the DDSL, Byrne is a talented striker/central midfielder who gets her fair share of goals.

– Emmet Malone