Eighteen-year-old Bohemians midfielder Aoibhe Brennan has been named in the Republic of Ireland's senior squad for the first time ahead of their crucial World Cup 2027 qualifying double-header against Poland this April.
Brennan, who has previously represented Ireland at the under-19 level, earned her promotion following a stellar start to the Premier Division season in Dublin.
Republic of Ireland manager Carla Ward highlighted the teenager's maturity and consistency on the pitch.
"I've spoken about her a few times since I've taken over and in a development game in February last year she really impressed me and I remember walking away and saying to the staff she's someone I really like and I've watched her a lot since," Ward explained. "She does the basics very well and plays beyond her years and I'm really interested to see how she'll do in this environment."
The latest 24-player roster also welcomes back West Ham's Jess Ziu and Durham's Lily Agg. Agg makes her first appearance since 2024 following a severe knee injury. However, Ward noted that both Agg and Nottingham Forest loanee Jessie Stapleton are awaiting scan results after picking up knocks over the weekend. Meanwhile, Jamie Finn and Hayley Nolan were omitted from the squad.
Ireland will head to Gdansk to face Poland on Tuesday, April 14, before returning to Dublin to host the reverse fixture at the Aviva Stadium four days later.
Currently sitting at the bottom of Group A2 after tight losses to the Netherlands and France, Ward's squad faces a challenging test against a surging Polish side led by Barcelona standout Ewa Pajor.
"They've really progressed in recent years and have been one of the most progressive nations with the ball in my opinion and they're very aggressive in transition," Ward noted. "You have Pajor who scored a brace against Real Madrid midweek and was outstanding. She is someone we have to stop, but they have quality everywhere and it would be naïve to think this is a given—we have to earn the right to play and win the game."
Republic of Ireland Squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic), Grace Moloney (Sunderland)
Defenders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), Aoife Mannion (Newcastle United), Jessie Stapleton (Nottingham Forest), Chloe Mustaki (Nottingham Forest)
Midfielders: Denise O'Sullivan (Liverpool), Tyler Toland (Durham), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Marissa Sheva (Sunderland), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Ruesha Littlejohn (Crystal Palace), Jess Ziu (West Ham), Lily Agg (Durham), Aoibhe Brennan (Bohemians)
Attackers: Saoirse Noonan (Celtic), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Leanne Kiernan (Nottingham Forest), Emily Murphy (Newcastle United), Kyra Carusa