Ireland women’s under-19 captain Savannah McCarthy has earned a call-up to the senior squad for the Euro 2017 qualifier against Spain.
Coach Sue Ronan included defender McCarthy and recalled Ciara Rossiter to a 22-woman squad for the 26 November tie at Tallaght Stadium.
Both are potential replacements for Florida State's Megan Campbell and Megan Connolly, who are unavailable due to college commitments.
After losing their opening fixture of the campaign to Finland in September, the side bounced back with a hard-fought but well deserved victory away to Portugal last month and Ronan is looking for her squad to build on that result against top seeds Spain, who opened their account with a way away to Finland in October.
"We have a great opportunity to put ourselves right in the mix for first place in the group by winning this game and we will be looking to take all three points,” said Ronan.
"I have been impressed by the form shown by Ciara Rossiter and Savannah McCarthy and had no hesitation including them in the squad"
“We played well against Finland but didn't take any chances we created so I was delighted that we got two goals in Portugal.
"We played Spain last April in a friendly before they went to the World Cup and while we lost 1-0 we did play well and should have got a draw, but the referee disallowed a perfectly good goal by Louise Quinn near the end.
"It is unfortunate that academic commitments mean both Megan Campbell and Megan Connolly are unavailable but I have been impressed by the form shown in recent weeks by Ciara Rossiter and Savannah McCarthy and had no hesitation including them in the squad.
“It will be a good experience for Savannah, who is still with the U19 squad and an opportunity for her to see at first hand what is required at senior international level."
Goalkeepers: Emma Byrne (Arsenal), Grace Moloney (Reading), Niamh Reid Burke (Shelbourne).
Defenders: Meabh De Burca (Galway), Niamh Fahey (Chelsea), Savannah McCarthy (Galway), Sophie Perry (Brighton & Hove Albion), Louise Quinn (Eskilstuna United), Ciara Rossiter (Wexford Youths),
Midfielders: Diane Caldwell (Avaldsnes), Karen Duggan (UCD Waves), Ruesha Littlejohn (Celtic), Grace Murray (Shelbourne), Denise O’Sullivan (Glasgow City),
Forwards: Carol Breen (Wexford Youths), Siobhan Killeen (Shelbourne), Katie McCabe (Shelbourne), Julie Ann Russell (UCD Waves), Aine O’Gorman (UCD Waves), Claire O’Riordan (Wexford Youths), Stephanie Roche (Sunderland), Clare Shine (Glasgow City).
