Roche sets her sights on Ireland return
STEPHANIE ROCHE has sealed her return to former club Peamount United ahead of the forthcoming Women’s National League season. The striker confirmed yesterday that she has left Italian club Fiorentina and hopes the decision to return to Dublin will help revive her international career. However, having been left out of Vera Pauw’s squad for the crucial Euro 2021 qualifiers double-header against Greece and Montenegro next month, Roche feels that being at home will do her hopes of getting back in the Ireland team no harm. The 30-year-old has only made one brief appearance for Ireland since breaking her leg against Northern Ireland just over two years ago. But she thinks that she can make a good impression now that she is at home. ‘I have been away for the last eight years now and want to come back and start enjoying my football again. Vera told me to do whatever made me happy,’ she said. Roche admitted it is tough not to be selected in the squad, especially with the women’s team getting a much bigger profile, but she accepts why the manager decided to omit her. ‘The hardest thing for me is I have always tried my best to promote women’s football, so obviously I was very disappointed when she rang me and told me she was leaving me out. But the more I thought about it, the more I understand it. She is coming in as a new manager. Looking at the last campaign, I didn’t play in it so she hadn’t a chance to see me. ‘But the thing about coming home is that she will get to see me a bit more regularly now. ‘And I am hoping when she sees more of me, she will realise I have something to offer.’
Stephanie Roche was speaking at the launch of the No Barriers 2020 project, which will harness the excitement of UEFA Euro 2020 in primary schools across Ireland.