IRELAND'S NIAMH FAHEY BELIEVES that despite what people say about the Ireland team, they have the ability to compete at this year's World Cup.
Ireland lost their opening game of the FIFA Women's World Cup 1-0 to co-hosts Australia in Sydney’s Accor Stadium on Thuerday, thanks to a decisive 52nd-minute Steph Catley penalty decided the tie.
A loss is a far from an ideal start for the Girls in Green, and they will now face Canada in Perth next Wednesday. Another defeat will make qualification from the group very difficult.
“I’ve no idea really,” Fahey said when asked what the likes of Canada and Nigeria would think watching Ireland's loss to Australia.
“We have our own aspirations. We know it’s against us to get out of the group, but we’d love to get out of the group. We’ve shown today we can compete, so just fine-tune a few things, and there is no reason we can’t get results in the next two games. But one thing at a time; rest, recover, go for Canada.”
When asked about Ireland's chances in the tournament, The Galway native admitted that the team had been easily dismissed by some critics.
“Probably, yeah. I don’t listen too much, but probably a lot of media had written us off completely as the whipping boys or whipping girls, whatever you like to say.
“Maybe in the media, we tend not to listen too much about that. We know our strengths and our qualities. We were unlucky. We put it up to the hosts in front of the crowd. Yeah, we can be proud of that.
“Just in the huddle, Katie McCabe outlined an awful lot of positives. We’re gutted we couldn’t make the pressure count overall in the end. Overall, we have to be really proud of the performance. It’s just a fine line in the end. Ultimately, we’re proud; we won’t dwell on it, and we have to get ready for Canada."
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 20: Niamh Fahey of Ireland looks on during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia (Photo by Sajad Imanian/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)Despite earning plaudits for their dogged performance, the Liverpool player doesn't believe a moral victory will help the team going forward.
“There is no point in a moral victory. The only thing is we take our learnings and obviously what we did well.
“Yeah, there are things we have to improve, just work on those, and it’s a quick turnaround so we can’t dwell too long.
“The positive, I suppose, is that we’re able to compete on the world stage in our first tournament. I think once they scored the goal, we had to come out a bit more.
“We more than put it up to them, we created a couple of chances towards the end. So yeah, we’re able to be here, I suppose it’s nice to be here and prove to ourselves with the performance – we belong here, and we’re able to compete.”
IRELAND WNT SQUADGoalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (Reading), Megan Walsh (Brighton & Hove Albion) Defenders: Heather Payne (Florida State University), Áine O'Gorman (Shamrock Rovers), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Diane Caldwell (Reading), Claire O’Riordan (Standard Liege), Chloe Mustaki (Bristol City), Izzy Atkinson (West Ham United) Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ruesha Littlejohn (Aston Villa), Ciara Grant (Hearts), Lily Agg (London City Lionesses), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Sinead Farrelly (NY/NJ Gotham) Forwards: Kyra Carusa (London City Lionesses), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Marissa Sheva (Washington Spirit), Abbie Larkin (Shamrock Rovers)
