Melisa Filis called up as Carla Ward names first Ireland WNT squad 

The Charlton Athletic midfielder qualifies through her Mayo-born mother.

DOWN TO WORK: New Republic of Ireland women's head coach Carla Ward. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Carla Ward has included Melisa Filis in her first squad as Ireland WNT manager. 

Ireland will get their 2025 UEFA Nations League campaign underway against Türkiye on Friday, February 21st in Tallaght Stadium. 

The Girls in Green then travel to Koper to face Slovenia on Tuesday, February 25th.

Charlton Athletic midfielder Filis qualifies through her Mayo-born mother and has been called up for the first time after receiving FIFA international clearance.

New boss Ward was unable to call on the quintet of Louise Quinn, Tara O’Hanlon, Lily Agg, Jamie Finn and Jess Ziu, while Niamh Fahey, Diane Caldwell and Julie-Ann Russell recently retired from international football.

There will be some new faces amongst the coaching staff with Alan Mahon (Assistant Head Coach) and Amber Whiteley (Assistant Coach) joining Emma Byrne (Goalkeeping Coach) and Ivi Casagrande (Performance Coach) in supporting Ward.

The squad will link up on Sunday, February 16th to begin preparing for the two games with sessions in the FAI National Training Centre.

Ireland WNT Squad 

Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic), Grace Moloney (Unattached) 

Defenders: Heather Payne (Everton), Jessie Stapleton (Sunderland – on loan from West Ham United), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Aoife Mannion (Manchester United), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), Megan Campbell (London City Lionesses), Katie McCabe (Arsenal) Midfielders: Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Ruesha Littlejohn (Unattached), Marissa Sheva (Unattached), Melisa Filis (Charlton Athletic) 

Forwards: Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Izzy Atkinson (Crystal Palace), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Emily Murphy (Newcastle United)

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