FAI explain Sinead Farrelly omission from Eileen Gleeson's Ireland squad

The 33-year-old featured in Gotham FC’s 2-0 win over Washington Spirit on Saturday but was left out of the Irish squad announced on Friday.

LEFT OUT: Sinead Farrelly arriving back in Dublin after the World Cup. Picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin

The Football Association of Ireland have explained Sinead Farrelly’s absence from Eileen Gleeson’s squad for their upcoming Nations League matches against Northern Ireland and Hungary.

The Interim Head Coach named 25 players in her panel – the first of the post Vera Pauw era – on Friday and Farrelly was listed amongst those missing out through injury.

But on Saturday the 33-year-old featured late on in Gotham FC’s 2-0 win over Washington Spirit, prompting the FAI to explain her omission was down to the travel that she would be required to undertake to join up with the group.

An FAI spokesperson said: "Ahead of selecting the Ireland Women's National Team squad for the opening games in the UEFA Nations League, the WNT medical staff were informed by NJ/NY Gotham that midfielder Sinead Farrelly was suffering with back spasms and that a long-haul flight to link up with the Ireland squad was not advisable.

"As a result, Sinead was not included in the 25-player squad. The medical advice still stands that her existing injury would be further aggravated should she travel, so Sinead will not join the Ireland squad for this camp."