Ireland goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan to miss Nations League play-off with knee injury

Goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan will miss the play-off. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Ireland will be missing regular goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan for the upcoming Uefa Nations League two-leg playoff against Belgium.

The outcome of the fixtures, at Lansdowne Road on Friday week, October 24, and Leuven on Tuesday, October 28, will determine which team begins the qualification series for the 2027 World Cup in the top tier.

It ensures that regardless of results in the campaign starting in February, the victor is guaranteed entry into the playoff series for a chance to reach Brazil.

American-born stopper Brosnan has been sidelined for the last four Everton games, making her omission no surprise.

Two custodians based in the Championship, Grace Moloney of Sunderland with seven caps, and uncapped Charlton Athletic Sophie Whitehouse, will vie to start between the sticks.

Injuries rule out Brosnan (knee), defender Megan Connolly (foot), midfielder Lily Agg (knee) and forward Leanne Kiernan (foot), while Megan Campbell announced her retirement following 57 WNT caps.

Defender Anna Patten – although selected in the squad – will be unavailable for the First Leg game due to suspension.

Midfielders Jamie Finn and Jess Ziu return to the squad for the first time since February and July 2024 respectively, while goalkeeper Katie Keane earns a senior call-up following her recent move to Leicester City and a brief loan spell with Sheffield United.

Shamrock Rovers defender Maria Reynolds and Athlone Town forward Kelly Brady will both link up with the squad for training sessions at the FAI National Training Centre following impressive seasons in the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division.

Ireland WNT Squad

Goalkeepers: G Moloney (Sunderland), S Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic), K Keane (Leicester City).

Defenders: H Payne (Leicester City), A Mannion (Newcastle United), J Stapleton (Nottingham Forest – on loan), A Patten (Aston Villa), C Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), H Nolan (Crystal Palace), C Mustaki (Nottingham Forest), K McCabe (Arsenal), I Atkinson (Sunderland). 

Midfielders: D O'Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), R Littlejohn (Crystal Palace), J Finn (Sunderland), T Toland (Durham), M Sheva (Sunderland), J Ziu (Bristol City – on loan), L Quinn (Birmingham City).

Forwards: K Carusa (San Diego Wave), A Barrett (Standard Liege), A Larkin (Crystal Palace), E Murphy (Newcastle United), S Noonan (Celtic). 

Uefa Nations League Promotion/Relegation play-off 

First Leg 

Ireland v Belgium 

Friday, October 24th 

Aviva Stadium 

KO 19:00 

Live on RTÉ2 / RTÉ Player 

Second Leg 

Belgium v Ireland 

Tuesday, October 28th 

Den Dreef, Leuven 

KO 19:30 (Irish Time) 

Live on RTÉ2 / RTÉ Player