Curran back in squad

Almost five years since winning her last international cap, Shelbourne striker Lisa Curran has been recalled to the Republic of Ireland squad named yesterday by manager Mick Cooke for Sunday week's crucial World Cup qualifier away to Wales.

Curran, who had a spell playing professionally in Italy earlier in her career, replaces Shamrock Rovers' midfielder Olivia O'Toole (ruled out with a knee injury) in a squad that sees just one other change from the team that lost 1-0 to Poland at Tolka Park in November - Tracy Mulligan of St Patrick's Athletic comes in for Rathfarnham's Nicky Sheridan.

"Livy is a huge loss to us," admitted captain Yvonne Lyons. "She's the most skilful player we have and one of our most experienced, but fortunately Lisa has plenty of experience at this level too, even if she hasn't played for us for a while."

Lyons concedes that, realistically, nothing less than a victory over the Welsh in Bangor will do if Ireland's hopes of qualifying for the 1999 World Cup finals in America are to remain alive.

Last month's home defeat leaves them trailing group leaders Poland by four points, with a game in hand. After Sunday week's match they play Wales in Dublin in March, Poland away in June before finishing their campaign with a home game against Belarus later that month.

Ireland Squad: S Hayden, A McNally, L Kelly (Rathfarnham), B Reilly, M Saurin (Shamrock Rovers), E Byrne, C Conlon, G Kierans, R Power, T Mulligan (St Patrick's Athletic), Y Lyons (capt), C Grant (Benfica), G Bennett (Eureka Kells), G O'Shea (Listowel Celtic), S Cullen, L Curran (Shelbourne).