Katie McCabe was named in the Ireland squad on Tuesday but, before she and her teammates take on Turkey and Slovenia in a decisive Nations League double-header, there is the small matter of a Champions League final for the Arsenal star.
The Gunners dispatched of Real Madrid and Lyon en route to the decider, as they aim to become the first English team to win since they themselves won their sole title in 2007.
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It will be the biggest club game of McCabe's decorated club career, and she will be able to call on the support of her international teammates for Saturday's final in Lisbon.
"I believe so. There's quite a big lot of players going," Ireland head coach Carla Ward said at her squad announcement press conference on Tuesday.
"I don't know the exact number but there's players going to support her, and there's a flight out of Lisbon to Turkey, they'll arrive at the same time as everybody else does on Sunday.
"There's a large group of players going to watch."
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McCabe will be part of the squad for the crucial pair of games against Turkey and Slovenia and will no doubt play a crucial role across the window.
Carla Ward Ireland
20 May 2025; Head coach Carla Ward during a Republic of Ireland women squad announcement press conference at the Sky Ireland Head Office in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
For now, though, Ward is more than willing to allow her captain to enjoy celebrating what has been a memorable season at club level, regardless of Saturday's result.
I have [spoken to her], and I will be again, no doubt.
I think she'll be returning maybe two or three days late, let's hope they win it. Let's hope that they do the job and she comes in with a nice medal which will hopefully put her in a good position to then help us with these two games. We wish her well, we wish the whole squad well.
I think they've done tremendously well and I think the turning point for me was probably beating Real Madrid in the manner they did. At that point, I'm thinking, 'They can win it here'.
We know that she's coming late win, lose or draw, because Arsenal have some things prepared for them.
No matter what, it's an unbelievable achievement to get to where they've got to. We know she won't be in for the first few days.
Arsenal's Champions League final showdown with Barcelona kicks off at 5pm Irish time on Saturday, live on TNT Sports. Barca are two-time defending champions, so it will be a stiff task for the English side, but no doubt Katie McCabe's international teammates will not be the only Irish support the skipper will enjoy this weekend, whether in Lisbon or from afar.
Just six days after the decider comes the first of a Nations League double-header of games that will prove pivotal for Ireland.
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Carla Ward names Ireland squad as Katie McCabe prepares for Champions League final
On Tuesday, head coach Carla Ward named a 24-player squad for the games against Turkey (away, May 30th) and Slovenia (Cork, June 3rd), the final two games in Ireland's Nations League B campaign.
A 24-player squad to take on Türkiye and Slovenia 🇮🇪
Make sure you’re with us at Páirc Uí Chaoimh for a huge evening! 👉 https://t.co/Lr00TldJFD pic.twitter.com/DqLkvEyEer
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) May 20, 2025
Adelaide United striker Erin Healy is a new call-up. American-born, Healy is eligible for Ireland through her Monaghan-born grandmother, and has scored eight goals in the A-League this season.
Carla Ward said on Tuesday that a move to Europe is on the cards for Healy this summer:
She is Australia based but soon to be European based this summer and that will help for sure.
She is someone we watched quite a lot. If you have a look at her, she can score goals and link the play. Importantly, she has got a lot of pace and somebody we have been excited about.
Yeah, she’s been talking to some. I’m aware. I’ve spoken to her family, her agent, she’s got interest from three WSL clubs as well as NWSL clubs and a few others around Europe. She is someone that is not just attracted myself but many others too.
Any other plastics?
The disastrous 4-0 defeat to Slovenia in February means that Ireland either need a favour from Greece in their clash with the Slovenians, or a big goal swing in the final group game in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoímh.
First up is the clash with Turkey in Istanbul next Friday (6pm Irish time) before the do-or-die tie with Slovenia on June 3rd in Cork (6pm). Should both Ireland and Slovenia win their first games of the double-header, Ireland will need to win by five goals to overturn the damage of February's defeat in Koper.
Should Katie McCabe arrive to camp energised by a Champions League win with Arsenal, it will be a massive boost to Carla Ward and the squad.
Eoin Harrington reporting from Carla Ward's Ireland squad announcement
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