Gleeson: 'That conversation is for me and Amber to talk about'

Even when their fortunes are the opposite to the Ireland men’s team – nothing to play for in a good way – there’s always uncomfortable subjects to confront for the women’s side of the FAI.

Ireland are on easy street, completing their Nations League campaign at home to Hungary tonight and Northern Ireland at Windsor Park on Monday with the target of top spot and promotion already secured.

That success ensures they’ll be back mixing it with the big guns next year when the Euros come around as they zone in on complementing their World Cup odyssey with another tournament in 2025.

It’s all motoring away nicely, leaving behind the turmoil of Vera Pauw’s fractious post-World Cup exit but progress and profile brings scrutiny.

Amber Barrett – the player whose goal at Hampden Park created history – is no longer in the squad but still operating in a professional setting at Standard Liège.

Her culling, along with new clubmate Claire O’Riordan, wasn’t so shocking given the patterns of selection by interim boss Eileen Gleeson since September but the explanations have been lacking.

Promoting teenagers like Peamount United pair Ellen Dolan and Freya Healy was natural when these matches constitute a stress-free link to the sterner test next year, yet doesn’t dim the spotlight on why two stalwarts, part of the World Cup squad, have been cut adrift.

“It’s a football decision and we have a bigger talent pool that we are looking at right now,” said Gleeson about the calls.

“We have different objectives around transitioning young players through. Amber is also part of that talent pool but we also base our decisions on what type of combinations we might like to play. we base it on game-time, we base it on levels they're playing at.

“Th