Republic of Ireland Women's Under-17 Head Coach Harry Kenny has brought a squad of 23 players to Leicester this week for a training camp and double-header friendly against England.

 

 

Kenny's squad are gearing up for the UEFA qualifying series which kicks-off on October 10 in Macedonia. Ireland will face Italy, Romania and the mini-group hosts chasing the one automatic place into the second, elite qualifiers next Spring. Runners-up spot could suffice if it's one of the best four across the ten groups.

 

 

This week's friendlies are being staged at Welbeck College, taking place on Wednesday afternoon (4.30pm) and Friday morning (11am).

 

 

Kenny was assistant to Noel King when the Under-17s two years ago when the squad qualified through the two group stages of the UEFA series into the finals where they finished runners-up. They followed that up by reaching the World Cup quarter-finals in Trinidad and Tobago.

 

 

This season's contingent has a long road ahead to emulate that group, particularly with a difficult qualifying group to negotiate in October.

 

Still, Kenny has been pleased with their progress to date and believes this trip will help greatly prepare his squad for the rigours ahead in the competitive series.

 

 

Kenny said: "This is a vital week for us in terms of preparing for the upcoming UEFA qualifying campaign.

 

 

"We plan to arrange a final training camp for next month but these two matches against England will tell us a lot as to what level we're at.

 

 

"Our squad is changing all the time. We've brought five new players into the panel from the last get-together and they'll all get their chance this week."

 

 

Two players that shone at last month's Gaynor Cup representative tournament, Lauren Bowles (Strand Celtic) and Sarah Rowe (Ballina Town), have won their first call-ups. Four American-born players, who qualify through parentage, are also included.

 

 

The standout player at the Gaynor Cup, World Cup panellist from two seasons ago Claire Shine (pictured on front-page slideshow), is part of the Ireland squad in England this week.

 

 

Kenny added: "There's plenty lot of talented players in this squad and they will face two good tests in the friendly matches. England would be a number one seed in qualification groups and are always there or thereabouts at every level of the Women's game when it comes to the final stages of UEFA competition."

 

 

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND U-17 WOMEN'S SQUAD:
Jill Maloney - Atlanta Fire, Courtney Brosnan - PDA, Nicole Cranny - St. Joseph's FC, Lauren Dwyer - St. Fiacc's FC, Annie Monaghan - Colchester USA, Shauna Newman - Raheny United, Mary Fitzpatrick - Atlanta Fire, Ciara Rossiter - Forth Celtic, Ciara O'Connell - Wilton United, Ciara Cormican - Colga, Carys Johnson - Kilmallock United, Lauren Bowles - Strand Celtic, Chloe Mustaki - St. Joseph's, Caroline Healy - Mount Merrion YFC, Katie McCabe - Raheny United, Sarah Rowe - Ballina Town, Amber Barrett - Lagan Harps, Michelle Farrell - Longford Town, Jenny Ferrari - St. Joseph's, Clare Shine - Douglas Hall, Fiona Bennett - Curracloe United, Olivia Dawson - Killarney Celtic, Amy O'Connor - Wilton United.

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