Denise O’Sullivan has said that she feels Ireland have ‘something special’ and that Carla Ward, the staff and the team have given her both ‘confidence’ and ‘belief’.
On Saturday afternoon Ireland beat Poland 1-0 at the Aviva Stadium to secure back to back victories in League A for the first time. Ireland’s Denise O’Sullivan was pivotal to the the win, securing the play of the match award.
After the victory O’Sullivan spoke to the media and The Halfway Line was there to hear from her.
‘It is what it is’ Denise O’Sullivan on suspension
O’Sullivan was booked in both matches against Poland, that means she will miss Ireland’s next match against Netherlands at Páirc Uà Chaoimh in Cork, her home County. First O’Sullivan clarified first what the booking was for,
“Ah I think it was just a foul” O’Sullivan said. “Poland are very good on the counter attack and they countered. I just had to do it, pretty much”
The Liverpool midfielder was asked which booking was more frustrating,
“Ah, I dunno” O’Sullivan sighed. “It’s frustrating that I’m missing the game, of course, it’s in Cork. It’s a massive game for the team so of course I’m really gutted. Look, it is what it is.
“It’s part of football, it happens. Take the positives, and that’s the three points tonight. I’m sure I’ll be there cheering the girls on in Cork. I trust them, I trust the staff that they’re going to go out and do everything in their power to get something in those games. Keeping my head up, it is what it is.”
O’Sullivan was optimistic when looking to the rest of the squad for who might replace her in the line up,
“We have a deep squad” O’Sullivan said. “I think we have a lot of talent and regardless of if I’m there or not, I think the team will perform. I’m not concerned about that.”
‘I’m confident right now’ declares Ireland ace O’Sullivan
At one stage in the second half Denise O’Sullivan did what Denise O’Sullivan does best. Controlling the ball she flicked it over her perplexed marker before flicking it over them again, firing on goal and rattling the bar. O’Sullivan was asked about what might have been,
“Yeah, I’m gutted” she said with a rye smile. “It is what it is. I wish it went in, but I’m confident right now. You can see that in the box, I’m really enjoying this team. It comes from the people around me giving me that confidence and that belief – Carla, the staff, the girls.
“I’m really valued in here. I think when you’re really valued and believed in as a player, I think it comes through in your performances. Gutted it didn’t go in but it is what it is.”
Ireland ‘need to keep our foot on the gas’ said O’Sullivan
Ireland were made to work for the victory over Poland, but have struck the woodwork twice they will feel they deserved victory. O’Sullivan who was playing in her 131st match for Ireland was pleased with the performance,
“I felt like we were in control for the whole 90 minutes” she said. “When we dropped into the 5-4-1, we became a bit deeper in our own half and a bit under pressure but it is what it is in these kind of games, you’re going to feel that pressure.
“I think we managed the momentum well. I thought Abbie Larkin done really well coming in, hitting those balls over and getting her down the wing. I think this team has improved a lot. Big time.
“Especially in our attacking play. You can see that we’re confident now as a team. We can always improve as well, we have to keep our foot on the gas, keeping backing each other. I think we have something special, this group.”
Denise O’Sullivan had belief Ireland would achieve ‘the only goal’ of six points
Ireland came into this camp with many fans and pundits alike hoping for four points but Ireland have come away with the maximum. O’Sullivan was asked about the mentality it takes to make that happen,
“Coming into this camp, the only goal was six points” O’Sullivan asserted. “We spoke about it the whole way through the camp. I think when you speak about it with each other and put that belief in each other and Carla [Ward] put that belief in the team that we are going to get the six points.
“We set out to do that and we succeeded. Very good performances, I think the last game against Poland was even better. We knew the second game would be a bit more difficult, that they would change something.
“They changed a little bit, were probably a bit more aggressive on our full backs and pulled a winger in to mark me but I think the team managed it well. The three points is the most important thing.”
