Latest news with #HayleyNolan
RTÉ News
25-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Hayley Nolan hoping for rub of the green after challenging year
Unplugging herself from a season that ended in relegation with Crystal Palace, Hayley Nolan walked parts of the Camino with her family - a fitting choice for a player who's shown perseverance, determination and genuine faith in herself over the years. Nolan played every game in the Eagles' Championship-winning campaign in 2023/24, but her dream first year in the Women's Super League was soured by injuries; a shoulder problem sidelined the Kildare native until December, then a training ground knock in February set her back a few more weeks. Still, the 28-year-old defender showed her quality whenever she got on the field, and was rewarded with a new Palace deal in January. Now, she's back in the Republic of Ireland squad for the first time in over two years, desperate for a chance to shine in the friendlies against the USA on Friday (2am) and Sunday (8pm). "I know it's part and parcel of being a footballer but when you work so hard to get an opportunity to play in the WSL and then you suffer a shoulder injury that keeps you out until Christmas and follow it up with another injury in February, I think it's fair to say I didn't have the best of luck," Nolan reflected. "To play for Ireland is the dream for any footballer and for me, pulling on the Irish shirt, there is no better feeling. Mentally, it has been really difficult for me being injured, I wouldn't wish it on anyone. It is a really difficult time, especially when you have massive ambitions and goals to help Palace and to help Ireland, but I am fit and healthy now... I have to make sure I take this opportunity." "I know my strengths and what I can offer." This week is a full-circle moment for Nolan whose last appearance for her country actually came in the States back in April 2023, when Vera Pauw brought the Girls in Green to Missouri and Texas. Given Diane Caldwell, Niamh Fahey and Louise Quinn have all retired, there could be room for an experienced centre-half in Ward's plans; indeed the head coach has said on several occasions she wants more leaders in the dressing-room. "I'm really looking forward to it," Nolan said. "I want to help the squad push on, we have massive ambitions of (World Cup) qualification and that's the goal of the team. "I have had a few conversations with Carla, stayed in contact but I've been injured and it's hard to put yourself up for selection when you're not fit and healthy. I played the last six games of the WSL and performed well and It has merited this call-up and me getting in. "I know my strengths and what I can offer and I think that can help the team a lot and that is what I am here to do." Nolan has been a guiding voice for two younger compatriots at Palace: Izzy Atkinson - released by the club a few weeks ago - and Abbie Larkin. Their presence has helped Nolan as much as she's helped them; a little Irish cohort to lighten the mood during the trickier times. "I'm smiling because I love those girls, so much talent from both of them," Nolan said. "It has been great to have them there at Palace for last 18 months, wonderful for me, it has been like a taste of home. "When you go into the changing room and see Abbie and Izzy, they are always in good spirits and I'm hopeful that I am a mentor to them. They have great talent, you can see Abbie in the last camp, how much talent she has. "Izzy's another tremendous talent, I think everyone knows that. There's a lot of possibilities there for Izzy. When she came into Palace and we got promoted, she had a great time there. I'm really looking forward to seeing where her future takes her. She's back in (Ireland) camp now too and I'm sure that she's hungry as well to show what she can do at this stage." As for the Camino, a chance to tune out, walk on and catch up with the family was warmly embraced. "We did about 20k a day, my family did the entire walk. I was supposed to be off so I only did half of it. "I'm the youngest and it's difficult because we all have different jobs and as a footballer I don't get that much time off. So we just said we would take this opportunity to get away as a family and do something different. "I absolutely loved it. I've two older sisters and it was the first time in a long time to spend a good period together with them. It was good craic. I've never done anything like it, normally it is just the beach or pool and you don't get to spend real time together. Whereas you have no choice when you're walking."
Irish Times
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Hayley Nolan hoping for a change in luck after Ireland recall
Hayley Nolan would be entitled to assume that if it wasn't for bad luck, she'd have no luck at all. On both the club and international front. A quick recap. Five years ago, the former Peamount United player left the University of Hartford in the United States with an MBA in finance. She headed for England with an ambition to play in the Women's Super League (WSL). Twice she came agonisingly close with London City Lionesses, just missing out on promotion, before finally making it with Crystal Palace. Then she injured her shoulder in preseason and was out until Christmas. Following on from this, she picked up another injury in February and missed over half the campaign in all – having played every minute of the previous two seasons. Palace were relegated in April and replaced by . . . London City Lionesses. 'I know it's part and parcel of being a footballer, but when you work so hard to get an opportunity to play in the WSL . . . I think it's fair to say I didn't have the best of luck,' she says. READ MORE On the international front? After playing all through the underage ranks, she was given her first Ireland senior call-up by Vera Pauw in 2019. Since then, she has won three caps, the last against the United States in 2023. All the while, she saw herself fall further down the pecking order when three fellow defenders – Aoife Mannion, Caitlin Hayes and Anna Patten – declared for Ireland . 'I was disappointed not to be called in during that time, but you just have to put your head down and do what you can do at club level,' she says. 'The dream for me has always been about pulling on the Irish shirt, there is no better feeling. 'It has been a really difficult time, especially when you have massive ambitions to help Palace and Ireland, but I am fit and healthy now and looking forward to showcasing what I can do.' Hayley Nolan training with the Republic of Ireland in 2023, the same year she last lined out for the team. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho Nolan featured in Eileen Gleeson's first three squads as national team boss. However, she didn't play and was omitted thereafter. Her first call-up by current Ireland manager Carla Ward is, then, a boost after a trying time. While Ward has a wealth of defensive options, the retirements of Niamh Fahey, Louise Quinn and Diane Caldwell could open the door for the 28-year-old from Johnstown, Co Kildare. She added: 'Those girls were tremendous for Ireland but, yeah, it is a massive opportunity for me now and I need to go out there and take it. I'm definitely confident. I know my strengths and what I can offer. My last cap was against the USA, so this feels like a full-circle moment. I'm really excited to be back in.' Two of her Palace teammates from last season, Abbie Larkin and Izzy Atkinson, are also in the squad for the friendlies against the US in Denver and Cincinnati on Friday and Sunday. Atkinson was released by the club earlier this month following a season of limited playing opportunities. 'I am smiling because I love those girls, they both have so much talent,' says Nolan. 'It's been great to have had them at Palace the last 18 months; wonderful for me. It's been like a taste of home. They're always in good spirits and I'm hopeful I've been a good mentor to them. [ Played 15, conceded 51, scored one: Carla Ward looking to change Ireland's history against US Opens in new window ] 'Izzy's a tremendous talent, there are a lot of possibilities there for her. She had a great time when she first came to Palace and helped us get promoted. I'm really looking forward to seeing where her future takes her.' The matches against the US represent something of a shop window for Atkinson and a chance for Nolan to show Ward what she's been missing. After four weeks off, she's refreshed and ready for the challenge. Not that she chose the most relaxing of breaks. 'We had a family holiday on the Camino de Santiago – we did about 20km a day,' she says. 'I absolutely loved it; it was good craic.' That might be the first time '20km a day' and 'good craic' were spoken in the same breath.
Irish Examiner
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Several players unavailable as Ireland name squad for USA friendlies
Ireland head coach Carla Ward has named a 23-player squad for the two upcoming friendlies against the United States. A number of players, including Aoife Mannion, Heather Payne, Tara O'Hanlon, Katie McCabe, Jamie Finn, Lily Agg, Jess Ziu and Leanne Kiernan, were unavailable for selection. The FAI said that following the death of her mother, Siobhan, midfielder Aoibheann Clancy "is being given the time to deal with this difficult period and has the full support of the WNT squad". Defender Hayley Nolan and midfielder Ellen Molloy have been handed their first call-ups since Ward was appointed. 'The two games against USA are an opportunity for us to work together on a number of things – both on and off the pitch – as we build towards the UEFA Nations League Play-Off against Belgium in October," said Ward. "We will be coming up against the best team in women's football, so we will have a plan for those games but it's also important that we make the most out of this camp as a whole. 'When these games were first proposed to us we knew that we would be without certain players, but that opens the door for others to step up. We are building, camp by camp, so we are looking forward to getting together again and putting in some extra work that will stand to us moving forward.' Ireland face the USA in Colorado at 2am Irish time on June 27th and then in Cincinnati at 8pm Irish time on June 29th. Both games will be shown live on the RTÉ Player with the second one also being broadcast on RTÉ2. IRELAND WNT SQUAD Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (Unattached), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic) Defenders: Jessie Stapleton (West Ham United), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), Hayley Nolan (Crystal Palace), Chloe Mustaki (Bristol City), Megan Campbell (Unattached) Midfielders: Denise O'Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Ruesha Littlejohn (Shamrock Rovers), Marissa Sheva (Sunderland), Ellen Molloy (Wexford) Forwards: Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Emily Murphy (Newcastle United), Saoirse Noonan (Celtic), Erin Healy (Adelaide United), Izzy Atkinson (Unattached)
RTÉ News
11-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Katie McCabe among Republic of Ireland players left out for USA matches
Katie McCabe is among a host of Republic of Ireland players left out the squad for the upcoming matches with USA, while defender Hayley Nolan and midfielder Ellen Molloy receive first call-ups under Carla Ward. Ward has selected a 23-player squad for the two friendlies. McCabe is omitted with Ward having already indicated it would be the case after their most recent matches due to the amount of matches the Arsenal star has played this campaign. Aoife Mannion, Heather Payne, Tara O'Hanlon, Jamie Finn, Lily Agg, Jess Ziu and Leanne Kiernan also sit out the camp. Midfielder Aoibheann Clancy is not part of the squad due to a bereavement. Nolan, a defender, last featured for Ireland on their most recent US tour in April 2023, while midfielder Molloy returns to the squad following recent impressive performances with Wexford in the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division. Ireland will take on the world's number one side for the 16th time in their history in the first game on Thursday, 26 June in Denver, Colorado at 2am Irish time before they meet again three days late in Cincinnati. The second match will begin at 8pm Irish time. Ward said: "The two games against USA are an opportunity for us to work together on a number of things – both on and off the pitch – as we build towards the UEFA Nations League play-off against Belgium in October. "We will be coming up against the best team in women's football, so we will have a plan for those games but it's also important that we make the most out of this camp as a whole. "When these games were first proposed to us we knew that we would be without certain players, but that opens the door for others to step up. We are building, camp by camp, so we are looking forward to getting together again and putting in some extra work that will stand to us moving forward." Both games will be broadcast live on the RTÉ Player, with the second game also live on RTÉ2. Republic of Ireland squad: Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (Unattached), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic) Defenders: Jessie Stapleton (West Ham United), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), Hayley Nolan (Crystal Palace), Chloe Mustaki (Bristol City), Megan Campbell (Unattached) Midfielders: Denise O'Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Ruesha Littlejohn (Shamrock Rovers), Marissa Sheva (Sunderland), Ellen Molloy (Wexford)
The 42
27-04-2025
- Sport
- The 42
WSL relegation confirmed for Crystal Palace's Republic of Ireland internationals
CRYSTAL PALACE'S RELEGATION from the Women's Super League was confirmed after a 7-1 humiliation at home to London rivals West Ham United. It means Republic of Ireland internationals Abbie Larkin, Hayley Nolan and Izzy Atkinson are heading for the Championship after one season in the top flight. While dropping to the second tier has seemed inevitable, the manner of how it was confirmed added insult to injury. A first-half hat-trick from Shekiera Martinez left Palace stunned and the German forward also added er Advertisement Elsewhere, Liverpool drew 2-2 with Tottenham and there was late drama for Courtney Brosnan's Everton as they lost 3-2 at home to Brighton. Brosnan's international teammate Heather Payne teed up Katja Snoeijs for Everton's second goal to make it 2-1 but the visitors drew level before Nikita Parris scored a winner in the 93rd minute.
