As new Republic of Ireland women's manager Carla Ward prepares to name the first squad of her tenure on Tuesday, the advent of a development group to bridge the gap from the Under-19s is a good step according to former international Rachel Graham.
A squad of 17 mostly home-based players was revealed by the FAI last week and they will take on their Ireland U-19 counterparts in a behind-closed-doors friendly during the upcoming international window.
Wexford's Ellen Molloy, who recently returned after a spell at Sheffield United, Cork City's Eva Mangan and Shelbourne's Aoibheann Clancy are among the League of Ireland-based players called-up for the training camp.
The need for a squad to bridge the gap between the senior and youth international ranks was something reiterated by former Ireland international Méabh De Búrca on the RTÉ Soccer Podcast last year.
Speaking on the podcast this Monday as it returned for 2025, Shelbourne stalwart Graham highlighted the significance of the development group.
"They've set up a development squad in the last couple of weeks. We've always kind of had this issue where we go 19s to seniors and it's a huge step," said Graham, who was capped for the Girls in Green at both Under-19 and senior level.
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"We lose a lot of players when they finish playing 19s. But they're just not ready to step up to senior level and there are a good few players in that bracket, and some really young talented players.
"So they've all been called in now to train next week and they'll play against our 19s. It's mostly home-based but there are also the likes of Emily Whelan and Erin McLaughlin who have gone away recently.
"So Carla will watch over that match and she might see someone she likes and she has said that she will come to League of Ireland games and keep an eye on that so that's brilliant for us."
In regards to the senior squad, Graham is not expecting too many new faces to be called in initially.
But those who have been sidelined by injuries over the past few windows could be in line to return like Jamie Finn and Jess Ziu, while Graham is intrigued to see whether Ward will draft in those who have recently found themselves without clubs, Ruesha Littlejohn, Grace Moloney and Marissa Sheva.
But a number of experienced names have retired since the Euros play-off defeat to Wales, namely Diane Caldwell, Niamh Fahey and Julie-Ann Russell.
"They haven't played a whole lot in the last few games so I think for them it's more you're losing your leadership roles in and around the squad and those senior figures for players to come in and look up to," Graham said of defenders Caldwell and Fahey.
"That's not something you can really call someone in to replace that kind of role, so that's maybe someone who's already in the squad the last few years might step up into them roles.
"Julie-Ann, obviously she was great for us as she was playing in our league and she was a great role model for all young players who were looking at her and she was as athletic and competing with all these best players in the world and she was playing in our league.
"She was brilliant, so it's a shame to see her retire and I'd love to see someone else from the league being called in."
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