Athlone Town star named in Ireland senior squad as Payne returns
Athlone Town goalkeeper Katie Keane has received a boost ahead of the Women's FAI Cup final on Sunday after being included in the Ireland women's squad for their Euro 2025 qualifying round 1 play-off double header against Georgia.
It's a second senior call-up for Meath native Keane following a superb season with Athlone Town, where she recorded ten clean sheets as her team won the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division title. Keane will report into the Irish camp after Athlone's FAI Cup final against Shelbourne on Sunday.
She is one of four goalkeepers picked in the 26-player squad along with Courtney Brosnan, Grace Moloney and Sophie Whitehouse. But Brosnan will not be involved in the first leg in Tbilisi due to suspension and will link up with the squad on their return to Dublin.
Having played for Ireland in the European U-19 championships earlier this year, Keane has yet to earn a cap at senior level, but the highly rated keeper will be hoping to change that situation in the near future.
Interestingly, Athlone Town manager Ciarán Kilduff has spoken publicly over the lack of contact from Ireland head coach Eileen Gleeson despite his side's success over the past year. He highlighted what he perceives is a lack of recognition for players from the Women's Premier Division, with Gleeson hitting back at his comments at this week's press conference.
Meanwhile, South Roscommon native Heather Payne and Kyra Carusa return to the Irish squad after missing the qualifiers in July against England and France.
Payne, who plays for Everton, missed those international games through injury but is back in the fold for the Georgia games.
Injuries rule out Megan Campbell (ankle), Jess Ziu (knee), Ruesha Littlejohn (Achilles) and Jamie Finn (knee), while Emily Murphy is unavailable.
Gleeson's squad will travel to Tbilisi for the first leg against Georgia on Friday, October 25, which will kick off at 5pm (Irish time), before hosting the same opponent in Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday, October 29 (7.30pm). Both games will be broadcast live on RTÉ2.
Ireland women's squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (London City Lionesses), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic), Katie Keane (Athlone Town). Defenders: Jessie Stapleton (Sunderland, on loan from West Ham United), Diane Caldwell (FC Zurich), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Aoife Mannion (Manchester United), Caitlin Hayes (Celtic), Anna Patten (Aston Villa). Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O'Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Lily Agg (Birmingham City), Ellen Molloy (Sheffield United), Heather Payne (Everton), Izzy Atkinson (Crystal Palace), Eva Mangan (Cork City). Forwards: Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Julie-Ann Russell (Galway United), Marissa Sheva (Portland Thorns).