'Pairc Uí Chaoimh is a great stadium' - Eileen Gleeson endorses GAA venue for visit of France

Manager Eileen Gleeson at the Ireland WNT squad announcement. Picture: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

Eileen Gleeson has welcomed the imminent confirmation of Cork’s SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh hosting the Euro Women’s qualifier between Ireland and France on Tuesday, July 16.

With Lansdowne Road and Tallaght Stadium unavailable for the final match of the campaign, the FAI’s search for an alternative has brought them to Leeside.

With GAA congress last week granting approval for the venue to be used for football, all that’s left for it to be rubberstamped is Uefa approval.

All-seater stadia is a prerequisite for competitive football matches, meaning the capacity will be restricted to 21,000.

The last time a women’s international was played in Cork was 12 years ago at Turner’s Cross. This fixture will represent a homecoming for Denise O’Sullivan, Megan Connolly, Saoirse Noonan, as well as Gleeson’s assistant coach Colin Healy.

“Páirc Uí Chaoimh is one of the strong contenders,” Gleeson said while announcing her squad for the upcoming double-header against Sweden, at the Lansdowne Road on Friday week and Stockholm four days later.

“For the moment we’re focusing on this camp. We’ll wait for confirmation on it but it’s a great stadium, we’ll be happy to engage all the Munster fans and get everybody out there supporting us.

“For us, we know we have a strong following from the Munster area. If it’s confirmed that we are in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, we’ll be delighted to be there.” 

Gleeson backed the uncapped Eva Mangan to shine on her maiden call-up.

“I like her,” she said of the Cork City midfielder.

“I like that she can keep the ball very well. She is comfortable in possession, a player who, for me, was always kind of understated.

“I feel like she doesn't get recognised enough for the level she can play at.

“We want to get to be a team who are comfortable on the ball. Having players who have that good base is what is catching my eye with Eva, it always did.

“She doesn't probably get the recognition publicly, or she is kind of missed, under the radar.

“We'd like to give her a chance to develop players who have that natural capacity.”