FAI - Republic of Ireland WNT squad announcement v Portugal

Republic of Ireland Women's National Team manager Sue Ronan has announced her squad for the final UEFA 2017 European Championship qualifier against Portugal.

The manager has named a squad of 22 players for the upcoming match at Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday, September 20th with kick-off at 6pm.

Peamount WFC duo Tiegan Ruddy and Roma McLaughlin have been called up following their impressive performances in the recent challenge matches against Wales where a young Ireland squad recorded a 0-0 draw and a 2-1 win.

Ronan has also called up eight home-based players from the Continental Tyres Women's National League whilst there is a return to the squad for Niamh Fahey who missed the Welsh training camp through injury, but Megan Connolly is unavailable.

Ronan said: "It's a really important game for us as we need to make sure we clinch that third spot in the group to help us when we go into World Cup qualifying next year.

"I'd like to congratulate Tiegan Ruddy and Roma McLaughlin on their call-ups to the national squad for a competitive international for the first time after their impressive performances in Wales.

"Unfortunately, Megan Connolly has made herself unavailable for the game, but the training camp in Wales has shown that there is now real competition, not just for places in the squad, but also for the starting XI, which is a fantastic situation to be in for this extremely important game."

The Women's National Team squad v Portugal

Goalkeepers: Emma Byrne (Arsenal Ladies), Grace Moloney (Aston Villa WFC), Niamh Reid-Burke (Shelbourne Ladies)

Defenders: Louise Quinn (Eskilstuna United DFF), Savannah McCarthy (Glasgow City FC), Niamh Fahey (Chelsea Ladies), Sophie Perry (Reading WFC) Meabh De Burca (Galway WFC), Jetta Berrill (UCD Waves), Tiegan Ruddy (Peamount WFC)

Midfielders: Karen Duggan (UCD Waves), Denise O'Sullivan (Houston Dash), Diane Caldwell (SC Sand), Ruesha Littlejohn (Glasgow Celtic), Roma McLaughlin (Peamount United WFC), Emma Beckett (Reading WFC)

Attackers: Aine O'Gorman (UCD Waves), Katie McCabe (Arsenal Ladies), Stephanie Roche (Arsenal Ladies), Julie Ann-Russell (UCD Waves), Fiona O'Sullivan (California Storm), Claire Shine (Glasgow City FC)