By Aidan O’Donnell
LETTERKENNY’S Ciara Grant has been included in a 22-strong Republic of Ireland Women’s Senior squad for next month’s Cyprus Cup.
Ireland will face Northern Ireland, South Africa and South Korea in Group C of the 12-team international tournament which will also feature England, Netherlands and FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015 hosts Canada.
The tournament will play a key role in manager Sue Ronan’s preparations for the FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers, which will kick-off in September following the draw in April.
Ciara, formerly of Kilmacrennan FC and now playing for Raheny United in the Bus Eireann Women’s National League, picked up her first two caps for Ireland against Olympic Champions USA in two matches before Christmas.
The former Loreto College, Letterkenny student accumulated a staggering 63 caps at underage level for her country and will be hoping to become a regular fixture in the senior squad over the coming years.
Ciara was part of the Republic of Ireland U17 team which reached the FIFA U17 World Cup quarter-finals in 2010 and finished runners-up to Spain in the European U17 Championships the same year.
The tournament next month will act as vital preparation ahead of the World Cup qualifiers and will be a prime opportunity for Ciara to put her hand up for selection when the more competitive games roll around in the autumn.
“We have previously gone to the Algarve Cup so this is a new departure for us and we are really looking forward to it especially as we are facing the likes of South Korean and South Africa which would be new opposition for us. The time we spend together in Cyprus is going to be important for us as we prepare for the start of the World Cup qualifiers,” said the Irish boss.
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