The future is now as Gleeson continues to give young stars their chance in green

Exciting Peamount United striker Ellen Dolan has received her first call-up. 

MAIDEN CALL-UP: Ellen Dolan with her SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division Player of the Month Award for October/November. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Republic of Ireland interim head coach Eileen Gleeson has said she is "super happy" with how her time in charge has gone thus far. 

Gleeson has led her side to top spot in Group B1, which has triggered their promotion to League A of the competition.

Ireland take on Hungary in Tallaght Stadium on Friday, December 1, before concluding their campaign against Northern Ireland in Belfast on Tuesday, December 5.

Reflecting on her time in the job, Gleeson said: "It's been great. We’re super happy, we’ve got promotion now to League A and we’ve got two games coming up. 

"We’ve an opportunity to transition young talent through so that’s really exciting for me. I think the girls have been brilliant."

Both Ruesha Littlejohn and West Ham's Jessie Stapleton return to the squad, while there is a maiden call-up for in-form 17-year-old Peamount United striker Ellen Dolan.

Dolan scored seven goals this season for league-winning Peamount, while the Offaly native was also voted the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division Player of the Month for October/November.

"Brilliant, brilliant," the interim boss said of the highly-regarded prospect. "Ellen has had a great year. She’s done well in with the under-19s as well so for us it’s a great opportunity to bring a young player in and expose her to the senior team environment, give her that experience, let her have a real feel for it and let us enjoy her youth and young talent coming through as well.

"Jessie, she’s also only 18, we've got Abbie [Larkin] who is 18, and Ellen, who is 17. The future is really bright. 

"We’ve got these players coming through who for me as a manager and who has always been involved in Irish football, it’s super exciting to give those young players the opportunity. 

"They’ve earned it, Jessie, Abbie, Ellen, they are the future. They’re the players we want to see in 2025 and in the next World Cup. 

"It’s nice for us to be able to give them the exposure during this campaign as well."

On the departure of men's senior boss, Stephen Kenny, Gleeson added: "I think Stephen is the ultimate professional, he is super passionate about Ireland.

"I'm sad to see Stephen go. He did a lot for Irish football and I'm sure he'll continue to do so. For me it's a sad day. I’ve the utmost respect for Stephen. 

"I think he’s wholly dedicated to Ireland and you can’t ask for much more."

Ireland WNT Squad 

Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (London City Lionesses), Sophie Whitehouse (Lewes) 

Defenders: Caitlin Hayes (Celtic), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Diane Caldwell (FC Zurich), Hayley Nolan (Crystal Palace), Jessie Stapleton (West Ham United), Chloe Mustaki (Bristol City) 

Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Bristol City), Jamie Finn (Birmingham City), Sinead Farrelly (NJ/NY Gotham), Ruesha Littlejohn (London City Lionesses), Lily Agg (Birmingham City), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Heather Payne (Everton), Izzy Atkinson (West Ham United) 

Forwards: Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Abbie Larkin (Glasgow City), Erin McLaughlin (Peamount United), Saoirse Noonan (Durham WFC), Emily Whelan (Glasgow City), Ellen Dolan (Peamount United)