Approximately six Irish athletes switch teams during the transfer window…….
Denise O’Sullivan stays in the United States even though there is a lot of talk about her leaving North Carolina Courage and travelling to Europe.
At the end of the English transfer season, six Irish players had made moves, with Tara O’Hanlon’s move from Peamount United to Manchester City being the most notable. The transfer window was a slow one. Following a frustrating spell at Everton, Megan Campbell joined the large Irish contingent at London City Lionesses. Kate Mooney ended a fruitless five-month spell at Lewes by moving to Scottish Premiership side Hearts, for whom she scored on her debut on Sunday. Abbie Larkin and Izzy Atkinson left Glasgow City and West Ham, respectively, for Crystal Palace in the Championship. Jessie Stapleton joined Reading on loan from West Ham.
Despite all the chat about Denise O’Sullivan upping sticks from North Carolina Courage and heading for Europe – Chelsea, Manchester City, Lyon and PSG having been rumoured to be among her suitors – she remains in the United States. As does Sinead Farrelly whose contract at NWSL champions Gotham has been renewed, Kyra Carusa’s stay at San Diego Wave has also extended. Marissa Sheva, though, is now looking for a new club after confirmation that she has been released by Washington Spirit.
After making her Palace debut a week ago, Atkinson rounded off a fantastic performance on Sunday by scoring the first goal in their 2-1 victory over Southampton on the road. This victory maintains Palace in the running for promotion from the Championship. Watford, however, put an end to Birmingham’s winning run, with both Lily Agg and Louise Quinn sitting out the match due to injuries. Quinn is the greater concern because she dislocated her shoulder a week prior, which makes it doubtful that Eileen Gleeson will have her in the squad for the Republic of Ireland’s two friendlies later this month—at home against Wales and away to Italy.
Positive center-half news: Manchester United’s Aoife Mannion is back in training with the club’s under-21 squad after missing yet another extended period of time due to injury, which cost her a spot in Ireland’s World Cup squad last summer. Niamh Fahey, a Galway native, is starting just her second game of the season on Sunday in Liverpool’s WSL draw with Spurs. Leanne Kiernan of Liverpool, who has been sidelined since mid-December due to a hip issue, returned to action on Sunday as well.
The most unexpected outcome of the weekend was Arsenal’s 2-1 loss to West Ham, which significantly hurt their chances of winning the title. Due to suspension, Katie McCabe was unable to play, although Jess Ziu made a limp exit after 39 minutes for West Ham. It was also a historic game, as West Ham became the first team in the WSL to have an eleven-piece roster without having an English player.
Meanwhile, in Belgium, defender Claire O’Riordan, who was recently cut from the Irish team along with teammate Amber Barrett, contributed to Standard Liège’s seventh clean sheet in their previous eight games. Their 2-0 victory over White Star kept them tied with Leuven atop the Super League standings.
