Pauw opts for Connolly in defence as Farrelly and Sheva make home debuts 

Ireland manager true to her word as she picks her strongest XI for final official warm-up ahead of maiden World Cup campaign 

FUN FAREWELL: Republic of Ireland players, from left, Niamh Fahey, Denise O'Sullivan and Grace Moloney walk the pitch before the women's international friendly match between Republic of Ireland and France at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Megan Connolly will start in defence tonight as Ireland face France at Tallaght Stadium (8pm) in their final official friendly ahead of the World Cup.

Ireland manager Vera Pauw – who has again found herself in the eye of an historical storm this week – has lived up to her vow by naming what seems her strongest team.

Aoife Mannion’s injury-enforced absence from the 23-player squad created a vacancy at the back that Pauw has solved by redeploying Connolly from midfield.

Ruesha Littlejohn has, in turn, filled the role, just behind an all-American attacking trio of Sinead Farrelly, Marissa Sheva and Kyra Carusa, with NWSL stars Farrelly and Sheva both making their first appearance on Irish soil. 

The Girls in Green open their first-ever major tournament on Thursday, July 20 by facing co-hosts Australia in Sydney before meeting Canada on July 26 in Perth and Nigeria five days later in Brisbane. Two of the four nations from the group progress to the last-16.

Ireland (3-4-2-1): C Brosnan; M Connolly, L Quinn, D Caldwell; H Payne, D O’Sullivan, R Littlejohn, K McCabe; S Farrelly, M Sheva; K Carusa.

France: Pauline Peyraud-Magnin; Maelle Lakrar, Estelle Cascarino, Wendie Renard, Sakina Karchaoui, Grace Geyoro, Sandie Toltetti, Kenza Dali; Kadidiatou Diani, Eugénie Le Sommer, Selma Bacha.