5 days ago
Team news: Saoirse Noonan set to make some Páirc history
Saoirse Noonan will create a bit of sporting history this evening after being named to start for the Republic of Ireland in their Nations League showdown with Slovenia at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Noonan will become the first sportsperson to play a competitive inter-county Gaelic football match and a full soccer international at the Leeside venue, having previously represented the Rebels at the Páirc in a league game against Westmeath.
She'll partner Kyra Carusa up front as the Girls in Green go for broke against a side who hammered them 4-0 back in February.
Ireland must win by four clear goals to top the group and go up to League A. If they fail to do that, Carla Ward's side will head for a two-legged promotion/relegation play-off in the autumn against one of the League A third-placed teams.
Emily Murphy - the matchwinner against Turkey on Friday - comes into midfield in what looks like a 3-5-2 formation.
Megan Connolly stays in the engine room with Denise O'Sullivan, while Abbie Larkin retains her place after a sprightly showing in Istanbul.
Caitlin Hayes gets his first start under Ward, replacing Aoife Mannion who was withdrawn at half-time in Istanbul. Mannion is managing a slight quad injury.
Louise Quinn is on the bench for the final time. The towering defender will retire after this evening's game.
Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Anna Patten, Caitlin Hayes, Jessie Stapleton; Abbie Larkin, Denise O'Sullivan, Megan Connolly, Emily Murphy, Katie McCabe (Capt); Kyra Carusa, Saoirse Noonan
