Patten, Toland, and Barrett named in Ireland squad for UEFA Nations League campaign

Carla Ward has included three Donegal representatives in her first squad as Ireland WNT manager with Anna Patten, Amber Barrett, and Tyler Toland being named for Ireland’s upcoming matches against Turkey and Slovenia. 

Ireland will get their 2025 UEFA Nations League campaign underway against Türkiye on Friday, February 21 in Tallaght Stadium, before the Girls in Green travel to Koper to face Slovenia on Tuesday, February 25. 

New boss Ward was unable to call on the quintet of Louise Quinn, Tara O’Hanlon, Lily Agg, Jamie Finn, and Jess Ziu, while Niamh Fahey, Diane Caldwell, and Julie-Ann Russell recently retired from international football. 

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It’s been almost a year since Patten was called into the Ireland squad for the first time thanks to her Falcarragh roots. 

Patten qualifies for the Republic of Ireland through both her maternal grandparents: Donald Coyle, a native of Falcarragh, and Bridie Coyle, nee Conroy, who hailed from Lettermore in Galway, who are the parents of Anna's mother, Paula Coyle. 

Meanwhile, St Johnston native and Blackburn Rovers captain Toland and Milford woman Barrett are also back in the squad. 

The squad will link up on Sunday, February 16 to begin preparing for the two games with sessions in the FAI National Training Centre. 

Ireland WNT Squad  

Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic), Grace Moloney (Unattached)  

Defenders: Heather Payne (Everton), Jessie Stapleton (Sunderland – on loan from West Ham United), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Aoife Mannion (Manchester United), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), Megan Campbell (London City Lionesses), Katie McCabe (Arsenal) Midfielders: Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Ruesha Littlejohn (Unattached), Marissa Sheva (Unattached), Melisa Filis (Charlton Athletic)  

Forwards: Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Izzy Atkinson (Crystal Palace), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Emily Murphy (Newcastle United)