Women reap rewards for harmony in camp
A YEAR that began for the Ireland women’s squad with no manager and a plethora of grievances has ended with a realistic hopes of qualifying for the World Cup finals and praise from John Delaney (right) ringing in their ears.
Twelve months ago, Sue Ronan quit as manager after Ireland failed for the fourth campaign in a row to even clinch a play-off opportunity at reaching a major tournament.
Tuesday’s success of snaring a goalless draw off European champions Holland puts France in 2019 very much within their grasp.
Despite their setback, the Dutch are still expected to win Group 3, but Ireland, under the stewardship of Champions League-winning boss Colin Bell since February, won’t consider that a formality – especially with them coming to Dublin for a return game in April.
That’s one of four home games in the five remaining for Ireland over the next 10 months. Second spot will seal a play-off route if the runners-up are of the best four in the seven groups.
Ireland’s players know, irrespective of the outcome, that they’re much better equipped to mount a push this time.
While senior players Emma Byrne and Niamh Fahey has previously highlighted the barriers to progress within the set-up, it took a ground-breaking press conference for the depths of their mistreatment by the FAI to grab the public attention.
That show of solidarity at Liberty Hall in April didn’t just hinge on monetary elements but moreover the steadfast refusal of the association to negotiate with their appointed representatives in the Players Football Association of Ireland (PFAI).
Byrne, now retired, chose last week’s PFAI awards to remind the football family that the issue remains unresolved.
FAI chief executive John Delaney made it his business to be in Nijmegen for Tuesday’s match.
The Waterford man had other priorities on the day of the squad’s famous press conference, as the vote for his elevation to the UEFA executive committee was rubberstamped in Helsinki.
SPEECH
Delaney couldn’t make it to Lisburn or Senec for the team’s opening two qualifiers against Northern Ireland and Slovakia. But not alone did he travel to Holland for Tuesday’s match; he delivered a speech to the players upon the return to their hotel.
“It has been a really good year for the team both on and off the pitch and it was nice of John Delaney to talk with us,” admitted Ireland centre-back Diane Caldwell.
“There was no mention of what went on before but it was good that we got to hear from him directly rather than by email.
“It was actually a very inspiring speech. John talked about our desire to reach the World Cup in France. It is always better when everyone is working together.”
Caldwell, based in Germany with SC Sand, believes that the upturn of results is directly connected to the improvement in the players’ working environment.
“We needed that support because every little inch can make such a big difference at international level,” said the 29-year-old Balbriggan native.
“I think the public have seen by the results how well we can perform when the conditions are right.
“We had the longest ever training camp ahead of a game before this.
“Over those 10 days, our manager made sure we were fully prepared for the Dutch challenge. That time in camp was vital.”