Northern Ireland Women’s boss Tanya Oxtoby has named her first squad of 2025 ahead of February’s Uefa Women’s Nations League double-header against Poland and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Oxtoby has kept a familiar approach, with returning Nottingham Forest forward Caragh Hamilton the only change to her selection from the two-legged Women’s Euro 2025 Play-Off versus Norway late last year.
Hamilton is back in the squad after an injury absence and replaces Forest team-mate Casey Howe, who herself is rehabilitating after an injury sustained in the run-up to the 7-0 aggregate defeat to the Norwegians.
A number of players in Oxtoby’s panel have secured moves at club level since then, with Megan Bell the latest to join the Northern Ireland contingent that also includes recent international debutant Natalie Johnson at Forest after arriving from Rangers Women in January.
Danielle Maxwell and Louise McDaniel have linked up with Burnley Women after enjoying a treble-winning 2024 campaign with Cliftonville Ladies, while former Glentoran Women striker Kerry Beattie has joined Aberdeen Women on loan from Hearts. Connie Scofield has also completed a temporary switch to Sheffield United Women from London City Lionesses.
Current Sports Direct Women’s Premiership representation comes in the form of Crusaders Strikers stopper Maddy Harvey-Clifford, Glentoran duo Emily Wilson and Chloe McCarron, Keri Halliday of Linfield and Cliftonville’s Kelsie Burrows.
Northern Ireland Women will begin their 2025 itinerary on February 21 with a trip to Gdansk to take on Poland – the 28th-ranked nation in the world – in Nations League B, Group 1.
They will then face the 63rd-ranked Bosnians four days later in a home game at Larne’s Inver Park (7pm), with Romania the third team in their group.
Success in the 2025/26 Nations League will bode well for Northern Ireland given the winners of each group in League B will achieve promotion to League A for stage two, the European qualifiers phase for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Oxtoby’s side could also gain promotion if they finish second in their group, entering a Play-Off against a third-placed League A side where the winner is assured of a League A place.
A third-placed finish would see Northern Ireland face off against a second-placed League C team in a Play-Off where a defeat would result in relegation.
NORTHERN IRELAND WOMEN’S SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Jackie Burns (Bristol City), Maddy Harvey-Clifford (Crusaders Strikers), Rachael Norney (Liverpool Feds).
Defenders: Rebecca Holloway, Rebecca McKenna, Ellie Mason (all Birmingham City), Rachel Dugdale (Blackburn Rovers), Kelsie Burrows (Cliftonville Ladies), Laura Rafferty (Rangers), Natalie Johnson (Nottingham Forest).
Midfielders: Joely Andrews (Hearts), Chloe McCarron (Glentoran), Louise McDaniel, Brenna McPartlan (both Burnley), Megan Bell (Nottingham Forest), Connie Scofield (Sheffield United, on loan from London City Lionesses).
Forwards: Simone Magill (Birmingham City), Lauren Wade (Hearts), Emily Wilson (Glentoran), Keri Halliday (Linfield), Kerry Beattie (Aberdeen, on loan from Hearts), Danielle Maxwell (Burnley), Caragh Hamilton (Nottingham Forest).