Republic of Ireland head coach Eileen Gleeson has hit back at suggestions she is ignoring SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division players, claiming such accusations are "misrepresentative".
Athlone Town boss Ciaran Kilduff aired his view midweek that players in the domestic league are not being given an opportunity to stake a claim for a senior call-up. The FAI's decision to discontinue home-based training sessions and the absence of a long-mooted Under-23s team means there's a void between the Ireland Under-19s setup and the seniors.
Gleeson has included Athlone goalkeeper Katie Keane and Cork City midfielder Eva Mangan in her squad for the upcoming Euro 2025 play-off semi-final; on Thursday, she insisted Keane's inclusion was not a response to Kilduff's remarks.
"Absolutely not," said Gleeson. "We watch players every single week in the League of Ireland. And I, over 30 years, have been the biggest advocate of the League of Ireland and its inception at National League and promoting League of Ireland players being integrated with international pathways.
"So statements that we don't watch players are completely inaccurate. In terms of Katie, my assistant Emma (Byrne) has actually attended Athlone's training sessions to watch Katie.
"We've had Katie in the pre-mini camp in July. So we're watching these players constantly. Winning League of Irelands doesn't [mean] an immediate call-up to senior international football. It's a very tough level, it's elite level.
"League of Ireland players are in direct competition with players who are in professional environments and full-time environments. So the primary message from that is we're constantly watching players."
Kilduff (above) said that he had never received a phone call from Gleeson or the head of women's football Hannah Dingley in relation to any of his young players. Given Athlone have just won the league and are in Sunday's Sports Direct FAI Cup final, Kilduff described that as "damning".
Gleeson bristled at that assertion, responding: "What am I calling him about? I'm not selecting his players. There’s hundreds of managers, I’m speaking to players that we need to. We’re watching the players.
"If I need to ask Ciaran about a player I’ll pick up the phone and ring him. If he wants to ring, ring. There’s nothing stopping him. If he wants this dialogue then pick up the phone and call me.
"I've been here 30 years, I’ve committed my whole career to League of Ireland and to the national league here, so statements that say I don’t advocate on behalf of League of Ireland players are completely misrepresentative."
During the Nations League Gleeson brought a number of League of Ireland players into the fold during her reign, including Peamount United quartet Erin McLaughlin (who has since moved to Portsmouth), Freya Healy, Ellen Dolan and Jess Fitzgerald.
For the Euro qualifiers, the presence of domestic stars was less frequent as Gleeson leaned into players based overseas for the clashes against England, Sweden and France.
The notable exception was Julie-Ann Russell. The Galway United attacker was a revelation against the English and French, but Gleeson said she is the exception that proves the rule when it comes to being able to step up to the required level.
"She's exceptional," added the head coach. "You know Julie had 70 caps before she’s come in to me, so is that not reinforcing the point that we take players, that we’re happy to have players that are the level and that can sustain the demands of the game at international level in the squad? That is what we want.
"We all know there’s a difference between League of Ireland to the WSL. You know that is an objective difference. We’ve got players playing in the League of Ireland, you’ve got players playing the in WSL, you’ve got players at the top of the WSL, you’ve got players in the middle and that is your direct opponent to be selected for the national team.
"We have to pick 23 players. It’s survival of the fittest, so you can be an excellent League of Ireland player but not a senior international player."
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