Glentoran's Kerr receives first Northern Ireland call-up
Northern Ireland squad
Goalkeepers: Jackie Burns (Bristol City Women), Maddy Harvey-Clifford (Crusaders Strikers), Rachael Norney (Liverpool Feds).Defenders: Rebecca Holloway, Rebecca McKenna and Ellie Mason (all Birmingham City Women), Laura Rafferty (Rangers Women), Rachel Dugdale (Blackburn Rovers Women), Abi Sweetlove (Linfield Women).Midfielders: Louise McDaniel and Brenna McPartlan (both Burnley Women), Nadene Caldwell, Aimee Kerr (both Glentoran Women), Joely Andrews (Hearts Women), Megan Bell (Nottingham Forest Women), Connie Scofield (Sheffield United Women, on loan from London City Lionesses).Forwards: Emily Wilson and Kascie Weir (both Glentoran Women), Lauren Wade (Hearts Women), Simone Magill (Birmingham City Women), Keri Halliday (Linfield Women), Danielle Maxwell (Burnley Women), Caragh Hamilton (Nottingham Forest Women).
Analysis - Youth at heart of Oxtoby's NI
What was an already youthful looking Northern Ireland squad has just got younger with the two newest additions.Aimee Kerr and Abi Sweetlove are the latest players to come through the under-19 production line after Keri Halliday and Kascie Weir in the last few months.Halliday and now Weir have transitioned seamlessly to senior level and have impressed, showing the pathway is there and that Northern Ireland are producing exciting young players.Kerr and Sweetlove will be confident of making a similar impression as they have caught the eye whilst playing regularly in the domestic league like Halliday and Weir.Linfield's Sweetlove will know what to expect having trained with the squad and alongside experienced defenders ahead of the second leg of the Euro play-off against Croatia while for Kerr the rise is far more meteoric.After four years playing with Ballyclare Comrades in the second tier, she made the move to Women's Premiership side Glentoran in 2024 and has not looked back.With a player of the match display in their Women's Champions League game against Pyunik and then winning the club's Players' Player of the Year award, she will offer Northern Ireland that a creative spark.
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