Kiernan buzzing ahead of Ukraine qualifier
We can make a huge leap towards qualification in Kiev, says Kiernan
IT HAS been dubbed one of the biggest games in the history of I r i sh women’s football with a sense that a win in Kiev this Friday will bring the Girls in Green a step closer to Euro 2022 and qualification for a first major championship.
It i s certainly the most important game of Leanne Kiernan’s career but that doesn’t faze the young Bailieboro native who faced the media over Zoom yesterday. The West Ham attacker isn’t the sort to be weighed down by pressure. Growing up, she recalls, her parents told her that ‘pressure was for tyres.’
Kiernan has just arrived in Ireland’s training camp in the German city of Duisburg, fresh off a flight from London. The FAI has stumped up for the preparations in Germany as well as the charter flight to bring the squad, and all the backroom team, to the Ukraine on Thursday. It all adds to the feeling that Friday could be a historic day for the women’s game in this country.
Ireland manager Vera Pauw hasn’t played down the significance of the fixture. A win will mean they are guaranteed at least a play-off place and leave them in contention to be one of the best three group runners-up who will qualify automatically for the tournament in England.
‘As Vera has said, this is like a cup final for us,’ the 21-yearold admitted. ‘It has to be, because we know how much this means, how it will be history to get to a play-off.’
Ireland beat the Ukraine 3-2 in Tallaght Stadium last year, which was Pauw’s first game in charge. Kiernan came off the bench for the final 20 minutes of that match, as she was returning from a long-term injury, but she feels that the eastern Europeans are now aware of what Ireland can do.
‘We’ve beaten Ukraine before so we know i t’s possible,’ Kiernan said. ‘It will be a tough game on their home turf but we will go into it, full of confidence. We believe in Vera, she believes in us and we all believe in each other so I think we have a great chance.
‘They underestimated us in Tallaght and hopefully, we can show them again that they shouldn’t underestimate us. We have even more players abroad now, playing in some of the best leagues in the world.’
Kiernan is part of the sizeable Irish contingent in the Women’s Super League.
Perhaps, the Irish player who has made the biggest impression on the WSL so far this season is national captain Katie McCabe, who scored a brilliant free-kick for high-flying Arsenal at the weekend.
‘ Banger, e h?’ Kier nan beamed when McCabe’s goal was brought up. ‘It’s great for Katie to be putting Ireland on the map with those type of goals. Hopefully soon I will be able to do the same. It’s great publicity for the national team and great for her confidence coming into such a historic game as our captain.’
Thee Cavan woman is happy with how things are going for her in London. ‘It’s great to be playing against the best,’ she smiles. ‘As a young one growing up, I always wanted to play against the best so I can’t complain.
‘Every game is so competitive. Every team has plenty of individual talent. This is my third year in the league and the standard has gone up massively since I came over, even the hype behind the league, there’s so much more now. People are saying it is one of the best in the world and it’s nice to be involved in that.’
Despite her youth, Kiernan has already been through a lot in her career and has had injury issues. These occasions make it all worthwhile.
‘It’s quite nice playing football with a smile on my face, I must say. I am really enjoying it. Obviously with Covid, it has been a bit restricted these days but I am really enjoying my football.’
“We know it’s
possible to beat Ukraine”