DONEGAL footballer Geraldine McLaughlin has been called into the Ireland soccer team to face Austria at Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday next because of injury to Aine O’Gorman.
The 24-year-old Peamount United attacker has a stress fracture on her ankle and manager Sue Ronan has called up the uncapped Geraldine to replace her.
McLaughlin, who previously played for Kilmacrennan Celtic, has just completed a successful season with IT Sligo and is in the Ireland squad for next month’s World University Games in Russia.
“Aine is a big loss because she is an experienced player and key part of our attack but it does give me an opportunity to have a close look at Geraldine who has done well this season with IT Sligo and will be going to Russia next month with the Universities,” said Ronan.
Donegal’s Ciara Grant was also named in the original squad.
Next week’s game is part of the squad’s build up to the FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign which will kick off in September with a home game against Slovakia. Also in Ireland’s group are Germany, Russia, Croatia and Slovenia, who were beaten 3-1 on June 2 by Austria.
Austria Head Coach Dominik Thalhammer has named an 18 strong squad that contains just three players over the age of 22. Nine of the squad are based in Austria with the remainder playing for clubs in Germany, Switzerland, Spain and America.
The referee for Tuesday’s game will Morag Pieir from Scotland.
Tuesday’s match in Tallaght Stadium kicks-off at 7.30pm and admission to the game will be €10 with U16s admitted free of charge.
Republic of Ireland Squad: Emma Byrne (Arsenal), Eve Badana (Drexel University), Seana Cooke (Raheny United), Yvonne Tracy (Arsenal), Megan Campbell (Raheny United), Sophie Perry (Unattached), Meabh De Burca (Eskilstuna United), Louise Quinn (Eskilstuna United), Karen Duggan (Peamount United), Diane Caldwell (Avaldsness), Julie Ann Russell (Peamount United), Ciara Grant (Raheny United), Rachel Graham (Raheny United), Shannon McDonnell (Unattached), Mary Therese McDonnell (Chicago Red Stars), Fiona O’Sullivan (SC Frieburg), Denise O’Sullivan (Cork Women’s FC), Sara Lawlor (Peamount United), Ruesha Littlejohn (Glasgow City), Geraldine McLaughlin (IT Sligo).
Austria Squad: Verena Aschauer (BV Cloppenburg), Nina Burger (SV Neulengbach), Laura Feiersinger (Bayern München), Virginia Kirchberger (BV Cloppenburg), Anna-Carina Kristler (SK Sturm Graz Damen / Stattegg), Lisa Makas (ASV Spratzern), Heike Manhart (SK Sturm Graz Damen / Stattegg), Jennifer Pöltl (ASV Spratzern) Nadine Prohaska (ASV Spratzern), Jelena Prvulovic (USC Landhaus), Sarah Puntigam (SC Kriens), Viktoria Schnaderbeck (Bayern München), Julia Tabotta (ASV Spratzern), Elisabeth Tieber (VfL Sindelfingen), Katia Trödthandl (Valencia CF Femenino), Carina Wenninger (Bayern München), Sarah Zadrazil (ETSU Buccaneers), Manuela Zinsberger (SV Neulengbach).
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