'What am I calling him about? I’m not selecting his players,' Gleeson bites back at Kilduff

The title-winning Athlone Town boss has expressed his frustration at the lack of home-based sessions available to domestic talent.

CASE FOR DEFENCE: Head coach Eileen Gleeson speaks to the media during a Republic of Ireland women squad announcement at FAI Headquarters. Pic:David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

The war of words between Ireland women’s team manager Eileen Gleeson and title-winning manager Ciarán Kilduff has escalated.

Athlone Town boss Kilduff has expressed his frustration since the summer at the lack of home-based sessions available to domestic talent and the lack of contact from the FAI.

Gleeson, asked about the criticism at her press conference unveiling the squad for the Euro playoff semi-final against Georgia next week, stressed she doesn’t need to call Kilduff or any other boss.

“What am I calling him about? I’m not selecting his players,” she bit back, despite promoting Athlone goalkeeper Katie Keane.

“There are hundreds of managers, I’m speaking to players that we need to. We’re watching the players.

“If I need to ask Ciarán about a player I’ll pick up the phone and ring him. If he wants to ring, ring. There’s nothing stopping (him?). If he wants this dialogue, then pick up the phone and call me.” 

 Gleeson based most of her response on the intensity of her scouting but that wasn’t Kilduff’s issue – rather the motivation for players to attend the weekly gatherings her predecessors Colin Bell and Vera Pauw held.

“I, over 30 years, have been the biggest advocate for League of Ireland and promoting players to be integrated with international pathways. Myself and staff attend games weekly so statements that we don't watch players are completely inaccurate.

“In terms of Katie, my assistant Emma Byrne has actually attended Athlone's training sessions to watch her.

“Winning League of Ireland doesn't negate (sic) an immediate call-up to senior international football.

“The league has moved on over the years but it’s still essentially an amateur league.

“International is elite level. League of Ireland players are in direct competition with those in professional and full-time environments.

“It’s survival of the fittest, so you can be an excellent League of Ireland player but not a senior international player.” 

Therefore, it was put to Gleeson that Ireland had benefited since Galway United winger Julie-Ann Russell returned to the fold – she scored their first goal of the Euro qualifiers against England and again in the Pairc Uí Chaoímh win over France.

“She’s exceptional,” Gleeson said of the player she’d previously worked with as manager of Peamount United.

“You know Julie-Ann had 70 caps (sic: 60) before she came in to me. Is that not reinforcing the point that we take players, that we’re happy to have players that are the level and that can sustain the demands of the game at international level in the squad? That is what we want.

“I don’t want to get caught up in Ciarán comments here today. It’s the squad announcement. That’s it. I’ve said what I wanted to say.”