There was a special guest at Carla Ward's Republic of Ireland squad announcement at FAI HQ in Abbotstown on Friday morning.
The head coach's daughter Hartley was in the building, kitted out in an Ireland jersey with 'McCabe 11' printed on the back and lightening the mood ahead of a serious window for the Girls in Green.
A very special guest stole the show at Carla Ward's Ireland squad announcement… but she had no questions to ask! 😅
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 22, 2026
Carla Ward faced plenty though, discussing the upcoming fixtures and Katie McCabe’s future.
🗣️'For me this is an even bigger window than the last one' pic.twitter.com/WbVtX8BeVT
They face the Netherlands at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh and then France in Grenoble with a chance to top the group and earn direct qualification to the World Cup in Brazil next summer.
That would be an extraordinary achievement given Ireland are the bottom seeds, but Ward has been bullishly optimistic throughout the campaign, emboldened further by April's back-to-back wins against Poland.
"Yes - I am extremely ambitious," said Ward when asked if finishing third would be the worst-case scenario for her side now.
"I tell the group all the time we have to strive to be the best we can be constantly. This is a bigger window than the last one. We have to continue trying to reach new heights. This camp is (about) how much can we compete with the Netherlands and France. And use the hurt.
"The first window, when we were narrowly got beaten by both, we were really disappointed. We got to tap into that and get something from both games."
Ward, who will be without the suspended Denise O'Sullivan and Emily Murphy for the Dutch clash, asked for the pitch at Tallaght Stadium to be narrowed to the minimum FIFA requirement (64 metres) when they played France in March. She hinted at doing something similar when Arjan Veurink's charges come to Cork, admitting: "We'll do whatever we can to try and gain an advantage."
The boss touched on the future of Lily Agg, who has endured an awful 17 months. She suffered an ACL injury back in January 2025, with the subsequent surgery leading to her receiving a cancer diagnosis of melanoma in situ. After battling back to fitness, Agg ruptured her achilles heel. Last week Birmingham City confirmed she will be released this summer.
The 32-year-old was recently spotted at an Athlone Town SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division game against Treaty United, fuelling rumours she could be about to take the reins in the midlands.
"I was on the phone to her at 6am yesterday morning - we're both early birds so it helps," said Ward
"We just want to support Lily in anything she wants to do moving forward. It's a difficult period for her. I'll tell you what, she's one strong individual."
When asked directly about the Athlone links, Ward said: "I think she's got all the attributes to go and coach or manage, whatever she decides to do. As I said to Lily, anything she decides to do, I'll support her in any way I can.
"I don't know (if she is taking the Athlone job) is the honest answer. All I can say is wherever Lily goes, whatever she decides to do, she will have my full support and I will help her in any single way, stepping into any role she wants."
Ward expects Katie McCabe's next club to be unveiled "soon", after the captain made an emotional departure from Arsenal.
"Katie is a top pro, top player, one of the best in the world. We've had a lot of conversations. Wherever she goes we'll be delighted. As long as Katie is playing she is happy. You'll see soon. Yeah, we've discussed (her future), of course. But look, I'm sure you'll all find out soon enough where she's heading."
There was also chat about another Katie - the Leicester City goalkeeper Katie Keane who made a late-season breakthrough at the Foxes, impressing in a WSL game against Arsenal to strengthen her credentials as Courtney Brosnan's long-term successor. Still only 19, Keane has not been included in this squad.
"I really like Katie," said Ward. "I think she has a big bright future and was absolutely delighted when she came on at the Emirates. That day, how many saves she made and (what she) contributed to the game is everything I've come to expect from her.
"It's a tough area. Courtney Brosnan, in my opinion, should have been in the (WSL) team of the season, she's had an unbelievable year.
"Sophie (Whitehouse) was in the (WSL2) team of the season, just pipping Grace (Moloney). There's a good crop of them. Katie has a long future with this national team."
Republic of Ireland squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton FC), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic), Grace Moloney (Sunderland).
Defenders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal FC), Anna Patten (Aston Villa FC), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), Hayley Nolan (Crystal Palace), Aoife Mannion (Newcastle United), Jessie Stapleton (West Ham United), Chloe Mustaki (Nottingham Forest).
Midfielders: Denise O'Sullivan (Liverpool)*, Tyler Toland (Durham), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Marissa Sheva (Sunderland), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Ruesha Littlejohn (Crystal Palace), Jamie Finn (Sunderland), Aoibheann Clancy (Shelbourne), Jess Ziu (West Ham United).
Attackers: Saoirse Noonan (Celtic FC), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Emily Murphy (Newcastle United)*, Kyra Carusa (Kansas City Current - loan), Amber Barrett (Strasbourg).
*Suspended for Netherlands fixture
5 June: Republic of Ireland v Netherlands, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 7.30pm
9 June: France v Ireland, Stade des Alpes, 8pm
