HAVING ENJOYED A stunning season Stateside, Roma McLaughlin has the potential to be “a very good asset to our team,” says Ireland boss Vera Pauw.
Roma McLaughlin recently landed another All-American honour.
Source: CCSU Soccer.
McLaughlin is one of two Donegal midfielders who earned international recalls as the Ireland squad for an upcoming international friendly double-header away to Iceland was named today.
Having amassed five senior caps to date, 23-year-old McLaughlin joins Shelbourne’s Ciara Grant as they make the cut for the first time since Pauw took charge in September 2019.
McLaughlin was recently named in the Division 1 Women’s Soccer All-America Third Team after a stunning individual season with Central Connecticut State University [CCSU].
It was the second season in-a-row the former Shels star made the All-America Team, constantly hitting new heights Stateside as CCSU retained the NEC Women’s Soccer Championship.
And Pauw insists McLaughlin is there on merit, rightfully earning her international recall despite a lengthy list of players ruled out through injury (Birmingham City’s Ruesha Littlejohn and Wexford Youths teen sensation Ellen Molloy are the midfielders absent).
“Her selection has nothing to do with the injuries,” the Dutchwoman said. “We would have selected her anyway. She has grown over the year.
“I was told that she had some injuries previously but we need to sit down and see how her development went.
“Defensively, she can immediately come back. She is a strong battler, she could suit our midfield if she can transfer her form to the higher level.
“We cannot judge from videos. She is playing at a lower level to international but the way she’s doing things and what she shows, we really have high hopes that she will be a very good asset to our team.”
Another player Pauw has shown faith in is Saoirse Noonan, one of the eight Women’s National League [WNL] players in the 23-strong squad.
Noonan on the ball for Shelbourne recently.
Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO
Having recently made the switch from Cork City to Shelbourne and stepping away from the Rebels ladies football set-up to concentrate on soccer, Noonan sees her recent club form rewarded with a call-up.
The 21-year-old had previously been named in provisional selections under Pauw, but will be part of her full set-up for the first time.
“Saoirse is a player that you probably need to see at the highest level under the highest pressure. She’s made the step to Shelbourne, she’s doing really well there and we have included her to see how she transfers that to the highest level.
After back-to-back friendly defeats to higher-ranked Denmark and Belgium, the Girls In Green now face more big tests against Iceland in Reykjavik, facing their hosts on Friday, 11 June, and Tuesday, 15 June [both games live on RTÉ Player].
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The two games – which will be live on the RTÉ Player – come as Pauw’s third and fourth friendly matches in charge, as preparations for the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup qualifiers ramp up ahead of September’s kick-off.