By now, the lucky 23 will likely know their fate.
Vera Pauw was due to call each player in one-by-one on Tuesday night, the eve of her big announcement, to inform them whether or not they would make the flight to Australia, as members of Ireland’s first ever Women’s World Cup squad.
They were conversations the Girls in Green boss dreaded. As she said herself, she would “break dreams” by omitting players who have given everything to wear the green jersey.
But she also revealed an empathy needed to help cushion the blow for those who didn’t make it.
“It is something that I am really nervous about,” said Pauw last week. “I think that is all I should say about it, because it is for them (the players) so much worse than it is for me.”
Pauw used 28 players during the eight qualifiers and the play-off against Scotland, and then added overseas including Aoife Mannion, Sinead Farrelly and Marissa Sheva.
In all, 33 players made it into her pre-World Cup plans, meaning heartache for nine of them today - 29 in her original squad, Izzy Atkinson a late inclusion and three US-based players who arrived this week.
Three of those who miss out will have the consolation of travelling with the squad to Australia as ‘training players’. Any of those could be promoted to the 23 ahead of the tournament in case of injury.
There is also a financial reward for the lucky 23, with FIFA stumping up €28,000 to each member of each squad that makes the tournament.
That money goes up per round, to a maximum €250,000 for each member of the World Cup winning squad.
The FAI themselves will take home a minimum €1.4m in prize money.
Here’s a look at Pauw’s options, their contribution in qualification (minutes played and goals scored) and our verdict on who will travel.
IN
GOALKEEPERS
COURTNEY BROSNAN (minutes played, 810 out of 810): An ever-present and Ireland’s undisputed number one, Brosnan kept five clean sheets in nine games, including the play-off against Scotland where she saved an early penalty.
GRACE MOLONEY (0): Ireland’s second-choice goalkeeper.
MEGAN WALSH (0): Likely to go as third goalkeeper.
DEFENDERS
LOUISE QUINN (810, 2 goals): The cornerstone of Ireland’s defence and a serious set-piece threat in the opposition box.
NIAMH FAHEY (630, 1 goal): The Liverpool skipper has long been one of Ireland’s most important players - and she will continue to be in Australia.
DIANE CALDWELL (450): After getting married, Caldwell spent her honeymoon away from her new wife in UCD’s student lodgings! Ultra-dependable in defence.
AINE O’GORMAN (340): O’Gorman battled back into the starting-11 for the Scotland play-off. Her experience and leadership on and off-the-pitch is invaluable.
MEGAN CAMPBELL (256): On the lookout for a new club, having been released by Liverpool, but her throw-in is a serious weapon. A marginal call, however, given her lack of game-time and fitness levels.
CHLOE MUSTAKI (104): Her performance in the 1-1 draw with Sweden and her role in Bristol City’s promotion make her a strong contender, despite a lack of qualification minutes.
AOIFE MANNION (0): Her knee only came out of a brace on Monday and it’s a risky call - but if not fit, she could be replaced by one of the three ‘training players’.
MIDFIELDERS
KATIE McCABE (810, 7 goals): The nation breathed a collective sigh of relief when the Arsenal star shook off a nasty looking injury in Champions League action against Bayern Munich in late-March.
DENISE O’SULLIVAN (810, 6 goals): The Cork star, one of the best in the world, is finally getting to grace the stage her talents deserve.
MEGAN CONNOLLY (630, 3 goals): Missed out on the Slovakia and Scotland games with a rib injury. Her set-piece deliveries were on display again in the Zambia friendly.
JAMIE FINN (524): After six starts in the nine qualifiers, including the play-off, Finn, worryingly, has found herself on the bench recently.
LUCY QUINN (439, 1 goal): It wasn’t looking good for Quinn when she was left out of the original squad for the USA, but she was a late call-up and impressed against the reigning world champions.
RUESHA LITTLEJOHN (280): Pauw is a huge fan of the midfielder, who was recently released by Aston Villa, but her game-time in qualification was limited. Huge dressing room presence.
LILY AGG (257, 1 goal): Scored on her debut against the Philippines last June. Her winner against Finland secured a play-off spot. Overcame injury to make the training camp.
SINEAD FARRELLY (0): Parachuted in at the last minute for the USA games, the 33-year-old is a class act who is sure to feature heavily in Australia.
FORWARDS
HEATHER PAYNE (628): Asked to perform a thankless task up-front on her own during qualification, she appears to have found a new role - under Pauw at least - on the right of attack.
AMBER BARRETT (117): After her play-off winner, Barrett had an unhappy time at club level. But her two goals against Zambia last week dispelled any doubts about her Australia prospects.
KYRA CARUSA (81): A stress fracture limited her minutes during qualification, but the San Diego-born striker’s performances against the USA put her firmly in the picture.
ABBIE LARKIN (28): Her youth and undoubted talent could edge her into the squad. Pauw is a fan and spoke highly of her after the Zambia game.
MARISSA SHEVA (0): Her debut came earlier this year against China. The US-born forward is an exciting option.
TRAINING PLAYERS
CLAIRE O’RIORDAN (90): End-of-season form at Celtic prompted Pauw to call the defender into her training camp squad. Excellent against Zambia.
CIARA GRANT (23): Grant’s substitute appearances against the USA and Zambia this year suggest a possible role for the Donegal-born midfielder.
LEANNE KIERNAN (39): Kiernan did well to make it back from a season-long injury to start against Zambia.
OUT: Harriet Scott (68), Saoirse Noonan (16), Sophie Whitehouse (0), Hayley Nolan (0), Tara O’Hanlon (0), Erin McLaughlin (0), Izzy Atkinson (0)
# Played in qualifiers, but didn’t make pre-World Cup camp because of injury or out of favour: Jess Ziu: (340 minutes), Savannah McCarthy (270), Roma McLaughlin (23), Ellen Molloy (22), Rianna Jarrett (16)
