John Fallon: Full house of wins the priority over experimentation for Ireland at Windsor

Eileen Gleeson girls in green are in Belfast to conclude their maiden campaign against neighbours Northern Ireland before what the locals expect to be a crowd of over 10,000 at the national stadium.

Ireland Interim Head Coach Eileen Gleeson.

Ireland women’s team manager Eileen Gleeson admits she must balance blooding youngsters with the objective of sending the team into next Euros with a perfect Nations League record.

The squad she took caretaker charge of following the release of Vera Pauw in September are in Belfast to conclude their maiden campaign against neighbours Northern Ireland before what the locals expect to be a crowd of over 10,000 at the national stadium.

Despite home boss Tanya Oxtoby attaching an element of spice to the derby, it is the Republic who are roaring favourites to bounce into next year as victors.

They had already sealed top spot in this campaign, promotion to next year’s top tier of Euro qualifiers and a guaranteed playoff route into the 2025 finals by winning all four of their opening matches.

A fifth was added on Friday by edging past a dogged Hungary side courtesy of an own-goal at Tallaght Stadium and they can crown it with perfection in this All-Island clash.

Having nothing extra to conquer presents latitude to experiment but Gleeson – notionally the FAI’s head of women’s and girls’ football deputising while the next permanent boss is being recruited – knows there’s something to be gained by completing a whitewash.

She has generally stuck with the strongest available team, culling World Cup squad members Amber Barrett and Claire O’Riordan from the frame in the process, but teenagers Ellen Dolan and Freya Healy from champions Peamount United are pushing for debuts.

“Have there been moments we thought this or that would happen?,” Gleeson pondered about the best laid plans, such as last the October win in Albania negotiated through a thunderstorm.

“There were probably games where we anticipated things going differently. We couldn’t have anticipated what happened when we went to Albania. We may have felt we’d get different players on at certain points of the game but the conditions meant it evolved into something very different. We had to adapt to that.

“We’ve had our goals and objectives for this campaign and we absolutely want to win six out of six.

“There’s been a few direct and indirect questions about our motivations or intentions around these games, or we wouldn’t try to win them, but I mean there’s not a single chance of us coming here not wanting to win and keep the story going. We want to move forward to Euro 2025 with six from six. We’ve a really competitive squad in, so we’ll pick the team to win the game.

“We have to keep moving forward but its super positive to bring young players into camp to give them experience. Freya and Ellen have adapted really well and brought lovely energy.

“We’ve got Jessie Stapleton in and she’s only turned 18. Abbie Larkin is only 18 so we have youth in the team. That’s been a real positive. We’re trying to get them game exposure but trying to win as well.” Earlier, Oxtoby and her captain Marissa Callaghan spoke of causing a shock to galvanise their own fans. They need to better Hungary’s result against Albania in the final series to be certain of clinching a playoff to join the Republic in League A of the Euro qualifiers.

“I've no doubt for them there's probably a little bit of added spice to it and I'm ok with that,” said Oxtoby, whose reign began with the reverse fixture, Ireland’s 3-0 defeat in September which was the first women’s senior international to be staged at Aviva Stadium.

“There's no problem from my end with that but I try to keep them level and try to keep them focused on what is going to get them the result to enjoy that. There's a managing occasion piece around that but these guys have been there before, they've been to a major tournament so I have no doubt they're in a position where they're really confident they can go out and execute so I'll just sit back, relax and enjoy 90 minutes - no pressure.” Veteran Callaghan added: "This is where we want to be - playing the top teams. We qualified for a major tournament so had that taste of playing against the best in Europe.

“Hopefully tomorrow night if we get it right and everyone does what they need to do I really am confident we can go out and win the game.

“No disrespect to Ireland, they're obviously a really good side, they've won every game in the League and have got outstanding players but if we do it right, if everyone goes in as starters and focuses on their roles and responsibilities, I believe we can win.”