Lucy Quinn is Sligo’s link to history-making Women’s World Cup team

SLIGO has a link to the Republic of Ireland’s historic qualification for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The senior team secured their place at the finals of the competition with a 1-0 Play-Off victory over Scotland in Hampden Park on Tuesday night courtesy of an excellent finish from Donegal native Amber Barrett.

Among the squad selected by manager Vera Pauw was Birmingham City forward Lucy Quinn. As the country is captured by World Cup fever next summer, Lucy Quinn is the name that will be of interest to anyone in Sligo as the Southampton native qualifies for Ireland through her grandparents. Her grandfather Edward Quinn is a native of Ballymote while his wife, Rose, hailed from Ballyjamesduff in Co Cavan.

Quinn, 29, had a longheld ambition to represent the country of her grandparents but faced fiveyears worth of roadblocks as Brexit and paperwork relating to family history stalled her international ambition.

In September 2021 she finally got the green light and has since gone on to make 12 appearances in the green and white of the Republic of Ireland, scoring twice against Georgia and Poland.

There have been two other previous links to Sligo in the Republic of Ireland team as current Sligo Rovers players Emma Hansberry and Amy Boyle Carr have both earned senior caps in the past.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup takes place in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 until August 20.

As of yet the groups have not been drawn but Lucy and her teammates could find themselves coming up against some of the modern greats of women’s football such as Alex Morgan (United States), Jennifer Hermoso (Spain) and Lucy Bronze (England).

RIGHT: Lucy Quinn playing for the Republic of Ireland.