Coleraine duo named in NI Women's squad

Coleraine pair Chloe McCarron and Lauren Wade have been named in manager Tanya Oxtoby's panel for the upcoming UEFA Women’s Nations League double header against Hungary.

McCarron, who plays her club football for Glentoran Women, and Wade, currently with Reading in England, are part of a 24-strong panel set to face the Hungarians back to back.

The first of the two games against Hungary in League B Group 1 is due to be staged on Friday (October 27) at Gyirmoti Stadion in Gyor, the main city of north-west Hungary. The game will have a 5.15pm kick-off UK time.

The following Tuesday (October 31) the two sides will meet again at Seaview Stadium in Belfast, with a 7pm start.

Last month Northern Ireland lost their first ever match in the UEFA Women’s Nations League – 3-0 to Republic of Ireland in Dublin – before bouncing back to defeat Albania Women 1-0 at home.

Hungary drew with Albania away in their opening fixture in the inaugural Nations League and then lost 4-0 at home to the Republic in their second game.

Northern Ireland’s fixtures in League B Group 1 will conclude with an away game against Albania on Friday 1 December followed by a home game against the Republic on 5 December. The Republic are top seeds in the group, with Northern Ireland the second seeds.

Tickets are available for the home game against Hungary on 31 October. They are priced at £14 for adults and £7 for juniors. Group tickets of 10 or more are available at £10 for adults and £5 for juniors. For more information and/or to purchase tickets go to irishfa.com/tickets.

Both games will be streamed live on the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website.

The senior women’s squad for the double header against Hungary is as follows:

Goalkeepers - Rachael Norney (Cliftonville Ladies), Shannon Turner (Wolverhampton Wanderers Women), Lilie Woods (Mid Ulster Ladies).

Defenders - Abbie Magee and Kelsie Burrows (both Cliftonville Ladies), Rebecca Holloway (Racing Louisville, USA), Ellie Mason (Birmingham City Women), Sarah McFadden (Durham Women), Rebecca McKenna (Charlton Athletic Women), Laura Rafferty (Southampton Women), Demi Vance (Glentoran Women).

Midfielders - Joely Andrews, Nadene Caldwell and Chloe McCarron (all Glentoran Women), Megan Bell (Rangers Women), Marissa Callaghan (Cliftonville Ladies), Rachel Furness (Bristol City Women), Caragh Hamilton (Lewes).

Forwards: Caitlin McGuinness and Kirsty McGuinness (both Cliftonville Ladies), Kerry Beattie and Emily Wilson (both Glentoran Women), Simone Magill (Aston Villa Women), Lauren Wade (Reading Women).