Close Menu
Meanwhile in IrelandMeanwhile in Ireland

    SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER!

    What's Hot

    BREAKING: Street performer Jelvis Pelvis is dead

    April 5, 2025

    The Cheltenham Festival: Why It’s Practically A National Holiday In Ireland

    April 3, 2025

    JOB ALERT: Social Media Content Creator at Meanwhile in Ireland

    March 26, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Meanwhile in IrelandMeanwhile in Ireland
    • Home
    • News
    • Craic
    • Sports
    • More
      • All-Time Top Articles
      • Culture
      • Dublin
      • Funny
      • Irish People
      • Interesting News
      • Satire
      • The Drink!
      • Travel
      • TV and Movies
      • Viral
    • Shop
    Facebook YouTube Instagram TikTok
    Meanwhile in IrelandMeanwhile in Ireland
    You are at:Home » News » Sports » The 10 GREATEST-EVER Irish women’s soccer players
    Irish People Sports Top 10

    The 10 GREATEST-EVER Irish women’s soccer players

    Matthew SloanBy Matthew SloanAugust 29, 2023No Comments5 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Share:
    Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Pinterest Email

    We take a look at the ten greatest-ever players to represent the Irish women’s soccer team.

    The 10 greatest-ever Irish women’s soccer players.

    The current Girls in Green achieved an unprecedented feat by qualifying for their first World Cup – the first World Cup that any Irish team has qualified for since 2002.

    While they faltered at the tournament’s group stage, Vera Pauw and her team – and, indeed, the nation – should be proud.

    To celebrate their achievement, we look at the ten greatest-ever Irish women’s soccer players.

    Table of Contents−
    • We take a look at the ten greatest-ever players to represent the Irish women’s soccer team.
      • 10. Megan Connolly – an important player for Vera Pauw’s team
      • 9. Leanne Kiernan – Liverpool’s number nine
      • 8. Anne O’Brien – the first Irish woman to play professional football outside of Ireland
      • 7. Áine O’Gorman – 119 appearances for the Girls in Green
      • 6. Niamh Fahey – three-time winner of the FAI Women’s Senior International Player of the Year
      • 5. Denise O’Sullivan – one of the greatest-ever Irish women’s soccer players
      • 4. Ciara Grant – a hero on and off the pitch
      • 3. Katie McCabe – the youngest captain in the team’s history
      • 2. Olivia O’Toole – Ireland’s top scorer
      • 1. Emma Byrne – an Irish footballing legend

    10. Megan Connolly – an important player for Vera Pauw’s team

    Megan Connolly is one of the greatest-ever Irish women's soccer players.
    Credit: commonswikimedia.org

    Born in Cork, Megan Connolly started playing for College Corinthians at the age of six, for whom she scored in the Women’s Munster Senior Cup final in 2014.

    The following year, she obtained a scholarship to Florida State University and played for the Florida State Seminoles. During her four-year spell in the States, she helped the team win the NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship along with three ACC Women’s Soccer Tournaments.

    She joined Brighton & Hove Albion in 2019 and has become an important player for the Seagulls and for Vera Pauw’s national team.

    9. Leanne Kiernan – Liverpool’s number nine

    Liverpool's number nine.
    Credit: commonswikimedia.org

    Centre forward Leanne Kiernan chose soccer as a youngster but was also an accomplished cross-country runner and Gaelic football player.

    A successful couple of years at Shelbourne saw Kiernan earn medals for the Women’s National League (WNL), the WNL Cup, and the FAI Women’s Cup before she moved to London to play for West Ham.

    She joined Liverpool in 2021 and scored 13 goals for the Reds as they won the FA Women’s Championship to regain promotion to the Women’s Super League (WSL).

    8. Anne O’Brien – the first Irish woman to play professional football outside of Ireland

    Anne O'Brien from Inchicore in Dublin was Ireland's first professional women's footballer. Anne left Ireland at 17 to play for Stade de Reims in France (this pic below was taken at their ground in 1974) but it was the midfielder's time in Italy, primarly with S.S. Lazio that… pic.twitter.com/CGBwKVCody

    — Éire Guide (@eireguide) July 9, 2023

    Anne O’Brien became the first Irish female to play professional football outside of Ireland when she moved from Ballyfermot All-Stars to French side Stade de Reims in 1973.

    However, she is best remembered for her time in Italy for the likes of Lazio and Napoli. During her time in Italy, she won the Italian League six times and the Italian Cup twice.

    Unfortunately, a lack of funding for the women’s game made it difficult for her international career to continue when she moved to the continent. But she will always be remembered as a trailblazer for women’s soccer in Ireland.

    7. Áine O’Gorman – 119 appearances for the Girls in Green

    Aine O'Gorman is one of the greatest-ever Irish women's soccer players.
    Credit: commonswikimedia.org

    Áine O’Gorman has spent much of her career in Ireland, mostly with South Dublin club Peamount United. She currently plays for Shamrock Rovers.

    During her career, she has won everything there is to win in Irish football and has made 119 appearances for the Girls in Green.

    6. Niamh Fahey – three-time winner of the FAI Women’s Senior International Player of the Year

    Three-time winner of the FAI Women's Senior International Player of the Year.
    Credit: Instagram/ @fahey_niamh

    Niamh Fahey’s storied career has seen her play important roles for the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool. Her time with Arsenal was her most successful, winning several WSL titles and FA Women’s Cups with the Gunners.

    She has earned over 100 caps for Ireland and has been named FAI Women’s Senior International Player of the Year on three occasions.

    5. Denise O’Sullivan – one of the greatest-ever Irish women’s soccer players

    First World Cup. One that was full of emotion, distraction, highs & lows but overall complete pride to put on the Irish shirt & see our fans turn up in thousands. Thank you so much & I hope enjoyed it, you deserve that 💚 pic.twitter.com/SyXVc0gzFQ

    — Denise O'Sullivan (@OSullivanDenise) August 1, 2023

    Sixth on the list of all-time appearances for Ireland, Denise O’Sullivan can stake a claim as one of the greatest-ever Irish women’s soccer players. O’Sullivan has represented Ireland no fewer than 105 times, scoring 18 goals in the process.

    4. Ciara Grant – a hero on and off the pitch

    Ciara Grant is one of the greatest-ever Irish women's soccer players.
    Credit: commonswikimedia.org

    Over the course of 17 years, Ciara Grant earned 105 caps for Ireland and has captained the national team on a number of occasions.

    As part of a dominant Arsenal team, Grant won the FA Women’s Premier League National Division nine times. Her proudest achievement, however, was winning the UEFA Women’s Cup in 2007 to complete an unprecedented quadruple with the London club.

    3. Katie McCabe – the youngest captain in the team’s history

    Katie McCabe is the youngest captain in history.
    Credit: commonswikimedia.org

    Katie McCabe will go down in Irish football history. In 2017, she became the youngest captain in the team’s history and in 2023, she scored the country’s first goal at the Women’s World Cup.

    She has spent the lion’s share of her career at Arsenal – the most successful club in English women’s soccer. McCabe has won the FA Women’s Cup, the WSL, and two FA Women’s League Cups with the Gunners.

    2. Olivia O’Toole – Ireland’s top scorer

    Olivia O’Toole spent her entire career in Ireland, playing for the likes of Shamrock Rovers and St Catherine’s. Across her career, she won eight FAI Women’s Cup medals and nine League championships.

    International teammate Emma Byrne named O’Toole one of the best players she had played with, along with football legend Kelly Smith. O’Toole’s 54 goals remain unsurpassed as the women’s team’s record, making her one of the greatest-ever Irish women’s soccer players.

    1. Emma Byrne – an Irish footballing legend

    Emma Byrne is Ireland women’s most capped player, appearing between the sticks on 134 occasions. She played alongside Ciara Grant in the great Arsenal team of the 2000s before finishing her career at Brighton.

    Perhaps her greatest contribution to Irish women’s soccer, however, was a player revolt she led in 2017 to secure better working conditions for the women’s team. The protest earned the team regular match fees, win bonuses, and team clothing provisions.

    RELATED ARTICLE: Top 10 best Irish soccer players of all time

    READ NEXT: The top 10 most successful Irish female entrepreneurs

    Legal Disclaimer

    We cover articles relating to many activities. Some of our articles showcase gaming and gambling as activities. While we do not take money for bets or own any gambling venues, we feel it is important that our readers know the risks of such venues or sites that we may mention in our articles. Gambling involves risk. Please only gamble with funds that you can comfortably afford to lose. See our legal disclaimer for more info.

    Share. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Avatar photo
    Matthew Sloan

    Matthew Sloan is the Assistant Editor and a writer for Meanwhile in Ireland. He has a BA in English and Spanish and an MA in Translation. A self-confessed city boy, Matthew feels most at home in the hustle and bustle of urban environments and loves nothing more than finding the best bars and restaurants along his travels. He has spent time living in Spain but currently resides in his hometown of Belfast.

    Related Posts

    The Cheltenham Festival: Why It’s Practically A National Holiday In Ireland

    By Siân McQuillanApril 3, 2025

    Insights Into The Most Engaging Sports Wagering Options (in Ireland)

    By Siân McQuillanFebruary 23, 2025

    Hurling is the greatest sport in the world. Here’s why…

    By Siân McQuillanJuly 24, 2024

    7 unforgettable moments during the NFL 2023/24 season

    By Meanwhile in Ireland TeamJuly 18, 2024
    OFFICIAL SPONSOR
    Latest Articles

    BREAKING: Street performer Jelvis Pelvis is dead

    April 5, 2025

    The Cheltenham Festival: Why It’s Practically A National Holiday In Ireland

    April 3, 2025

    JOB ALERT: Social Media Content Creator at Meanwhile in Ireland

    March 26, 2025

    Insights Into The Most Engaging Sports Wagering Options (in Ireland)

    February 23, 2025
    SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER!
      Thank you for Signing Up
    Please correct the marked field(s) below.
    1,true,6,Contact Email,2 1,false,1,First Name,2 1,false,1,Last Name,2
    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • TikTok
    Don't Miss

    The 10 best Castles in Ireland, RANKED

    By Meanwhile in Ireland TeamMay 18, 2020

    Delve into history and relive the adventures of ancient Irish warriors in ages gone by.…

    Top 5 most famous horse racing tracks in Ireland

    February 23, 2022

    ‘Playing Erin Quinn meant the world to me’ – Saoirse Monica Jackson wins best comedy actress

    February 27, 2023

    Top 10 reasons why being Irish is the absolute best

    April 11, 2022

    We specialise in Bizarre Irish News, Viral Videos and general Irish Craic.

    • Home
    • About us
    • Contact us
    • Team
    • Work for us
    • Terms of use
    • Privacy policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Copyright
    • Shop
    Follow us

    Connect with us on your favourite social media app.

    Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube TikTok
    Contact us

    19 Arthur St, Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT1 4GA.

    [email protected]
    SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER!
      Thank you for Signing Up
    Please correct the marked field(s) below.
    1,true,6,Contact Email,2 1,false,1,First Name,2 1,false,1,Last Name,2
    ©Copyright 2019 - Meanwhile in Ireland | Trading under Emerald Green Media

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.