Eileen Gleeson has hit back at comments made by Athlone Town boss Ciaran Kilduff this week.Kilduff stated that domestic players in the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division were not being given a fair crack of the whip when it came to being selected for the senior national team.
Kilduff pointed to the FAI's decision to stop home-based training sessions and the lack of a bridge between the younger and older sides, noting there is currently a huge gap between that level and the senior team.
Speaking earlier in the week, Kilduff said that having a player in the Irish domestic league is good for representation and that players shouldn't have to leave to be selected for the national team.
"We need more. I want that carrot; I want that motivation for not just my girls, but for all managers in the league to be able to say to their players, 'You can do it from here. You can study here, play in this league, and maybe if you're good enough, play for your country," said Kilduff to RTE Sport on Wednesday
Gleeson has now selected her side for the Georgia doubleheader later this month, with the usual suspects like Denise O'Sullivan, Courtney Brosnan, and Aoife Mannion included. However, Athlone goalkeeper Katie Keane and Cork City midfielder Eva Mangan have also been selected for their fine form in the league.
When asked if selecting the pair was a reaction to Kilduff's comments, Gleeson refuted the suggestion, stating that the notion that she and her team don't watch the domestic league is inaccurate.
"Absolutely not," said Gleeson in her squad selection press conference to RTE Sport on Thursday. "We watch players every single week in the League of Ireland. Over the last 30 years, I’ve been the biggest advocate of the League of Ireland since its inception as the National League, promoting League of Ireland players being integrated into 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."
Gleeson added that while Katie Keane is a league winner, that does not automatically mean players are ready for the elite level of women’s sport. She noted that comparing them with players in professional environments in England is not fair.
Head coach Eileen Gleeson. (Photo By David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images) )"We’ve had Katie in the pre-mini camp in July, so we’re watching these players constantly. Winning the League of Ireland doesn’t immediately qualify someone for a senior international call-up. It’s a very tough, elite level."
"League of Ireland players are in direct competition with players who are in professional and full-time environments. The primary message here is that we are constantly watching players."
Kilduff also remarked that the lack of communication from Gleeson or Head of Women’s Football, Hannah Dingley, was 'damning'.
"The question was put to me: have I ever gotten a call from Eileen Gleeson or the head of women’s football (Hannah Dingley)? The answer is no. Is that damning because I’m managing the champions who are going to the Champions League and have a load of young Irish girls? I would say yeah."
"There are loads of players in this league who I think need to be told, 'You're doing well.'"
When asked directly about the 'damning' comment, Gleeson claimed that Kilduff’s remarks were misrepresentative. The Ireland boss added that Kilduff could reach out to her any time if he wanted.
"What am I calling him about? I’m not selecting his players. There are hundreds of managers; I’m speaking to the players we need to. We’re watching the players," added the Ireland boss.
"If I need to ask Ciaran about a player, I’ll pick up the phone and ring him. If he wants to call, he can call. There’s nothing stopping him. If he wants this dialogue, then pick up the phone and call me."
"I’ve been here for 30 years; I’ve committed my whole career to the League of Ireland and the national league here, so statements suggesting I don’t advocate on behalf of League of Ireland players are completely misrepresentative."
Eileen Gleeson’s squad will travel to Tbilisi for the first leg against Georgia on Friday, October 25th, with kick-off at 20:00 local time (17:00 Irish time), before hosting the same opponent at Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday, October 29th. Both games will be broadcast live on RTÉ2.
IRELAND WNT SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (London City Lionesses), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic), Katie Keane (Athlone Town)
Defenders: Jessie Stapleton (Sunderland, on loan from West Ham United), Diane Caldwell (FC Zurich), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Aoife Mannion (Manchester United), Caitlin Hayes (Celtic), Anna Patten (Aston Villa)
Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O'Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Lily Agg (Birmingham City), Ellen Molloy (Sheffield United), Heather Payne (Everton), Izzy Atkinson (Crystal Palace), Eva Mangan (Cork City)
Forwards: Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Julie-Ann Russell (Galway United), Marissa Sheva (Portland Thorns)
FIXTURES
UEFA EURO 2025 Qualifying Play-Off
Round 1, First Leg
Georgia v Ireland
Friday, October 25th
Mikheil Meskhi II Stadium
KO 20:00 (17:00 Irish Time)
LIVE on RTÉ2
UEFA EURO 2025 Qualifying Play-Off
Round 1, Second Leg
Ireland v Georgia
Tuesday, October 29th
Tallaght Stadium
KO 19:30
LIVE on RTÉ2
