Joy Ralph says she ‘wants to be competing at the highest level’ ahead of the start of the new season with Sheffield United.

Ralph reflected on a positive first season in the Steel City despite being blighted by injuries. The highlight? A ‘surreal’ experience of playing the English champions, Manchester City and lining up against Lauren Hemp and Khadija Shaw in last season’s Adobe Women’s FA Cup.

With the kick off of the Barclays Women’s Super League 2 season fast approaching, Ralph sat down with The Halfway Line to talk all things her footballing journey.

Joy Ralph reflects ‘setbacks are a part of football’

It was a disrupted season for Joy Ralph last term, she dislocated her shoulder before rupturing two ligaments in her ankle either side of a good spell of form.

Ralph spoke about those periods with considered reflection, “I think it has taught me a lot” she explained. “Setbacks are a part of football, and because I’m so young, it definitely has taught me a lot. I feel like I’m quite resilient now and I know I can come back from anything really.”

“Overall, I’ve loved it [the move to Sheffield United], I love playing full time, it’s a privilege.”

Arrival of Maria Reynolds makes Ralph feel like she has ‘a piece of home’ with her

Sheffield United have had a busy summer in the transfer market with seven new signings in the door. One of those is Ralph’s old Shamrock Rovers team mate Maria Reynolds,

“It’s great obviously, Maz [Maria Reynolds] is my best mate at home” Ralph smiled. “So when she told me that she was coming, I was more than happy. Now, like we always say, [it] almost feels like we have a piece of home with us.

“So yeah, it’s really, really good. I’m delighted she’s here!” Ralph laughed.

Ralph was asked to expand on what it means to her to have Reynolds with her in Sheffield,

“I think once you just have good people with you, in lows, in highs, people that will back you when you’re not backing yourself” Ralph paused for a moment before continuing. “Like I think having someone like Maria, who will just help me through, support me whenever I need her and I’ll do the same [for her].

“I think once I have good people around me, that’s all I really need, my friends and my family.”

There is a growing Irish contingent in the Steel City now with Lucy Quinn also arriving from Birmingham, Ralph smiled at the realisation,

“I think when I first moved over, obviously I was the only Irish player in Sheffield [United]” Ralph stated. “So obviously going over I didn’t know anyone but I think I actually quite enjoyed coming over, not knowing anybody, and I became a lot more independent.

“I had to make my new friends and stuff like that but it is great to have the Irish, we’re a bit chaotic, though!” Ralph said with a playful grin before concluding her thought “So yeah, it’s great to have Lucy and Maz here.”

‘It was surreal’ to play against Manchester City stars says Ralph

Sheffield United were drawn against eventual double winners Manchester City in the FA Cup last term. While the Blades were defeated on the day, it was valuable experience for young players like Ralph in the squad,

“It was like, surreal” Ralph recalled. “Like, even just when we first walked in, just seeing players that I would have looked up to when I was younger, and I still do, like the likes of Lauren Hemp, Bunny Shaw.

“Bunny Shaw’s ability to score is unbelievable. So I think it was just honestly surreal. Like even just playing when you’d make a tackle against one of them, just honestly being in the same presence was just unreal.

“And they’re the games that I want to be playing in like want to be competing at the highest level I can. So yeah it was unreal.”

An Ireland Under 23s team ‘would make a huge difference’ says Joy Ralph

Ralph is one of Ireland’s most decorated players at under age level. It was her goal against Austria that ensured the Under 19s qualified for the Euros in Lithuania for just the second time in 2024.

At the final tournament they impressively held eventual champions Spain to a 0-0 draw in their opening match. The Halfway Line asked Ralph about her international ambitions at senior level,

“I mean, my dream is always to represent my country” Ralph stated. “So every time I do it, I don’t take it for granted at all because I know there’s a lot of people that would do anything to be in my footsteps, so I’m very grateful.

“Hopefully, one day I can put on the green shirt and represent my country at senior international level.”

As for whether she’d spoken to Carla Ward at all, Ralph was sincere in her reply,

“We’ve had like brief conversations” she said. “She’s been at a couple of my games.”

Ralph is a player who is directly missing out on underage international football now as Ireland does not have an Under 23s team and Ralph is no longer eligible for the Under 19s. The Halfway Line put that to Ralph,

“Yeah, I think there’s been a lot of conversation around it” came Ralph’s considered response. “I think the FAI are working their best to try and get that sorted. Obviously, it can be frustrating at times because the gap between the 19s and seniors is huge.

“So to bridge the gap, if a 23s was made, it would make a huge difference for all of us, so hopefully it will be set up soon.”

Ralph responds to her Pompey wondergoal ‘I can do better this season’

One of the highlights of the Blades’s season last term was a wondergoal from Joy Ralph against Portsmouth at Brammall Lane.

𝐉𝐨𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐥𝐩𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 🚀🔝🗑️

Exceptional goal from the exciting Irish youngster to give Sheffield United the lead against Portsmouth this afternoon.#COYGIG ☘️ 📹 @BarclaysWSL pic.twitter.com/C4TUVceXwl

— Tom Maher (@TOMMAHERSY) March 28, 2026

But what are Ralph’s memories of that sensational strike?

“Yeah, it was pretty good” Ralph reluctantly admitted with a wry smile. “Obviously, I’d just come back from my shoulder [injury], so I was a few games in, and I think I am quite a natural finisher, the girls would say, and I think it was… quite a… like it was a good goal, but I think I can do better this season.”

Joy Ralph’s Sheffield United side kick off their campaign at home to Leicester City on Sunday at 2pm with the match streamed live on YouTube.