Denise O’Sullivan says she is ‘excited’ at the prospect of five must win play off matches in a row with Gotham FC and Ireland at the end of the year.
After Ireland had beaten Kazakhstan 4-0 last night in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, one of the goal-scorers, Cork native, Denise O’Sullivan, spoke to the media and The Halfway Line was there to hear from her.
Denise O’Sullivan ‘excited’ to be ‘two games from Brazil’
November and December are set to be busy months in the O’Sullivan household, first up club side Gotham FC will play in the NWSL play offs, hoping for three wins from three give the New York club a third NWSL title. After that she’ll face Poland home and away with Ireland for a place at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, O’Sullivan reflected on that prospect,
“I’m excited to be honest” O’Sullivan extolled. “I think it’s a challenge, and I think they’re games that you want to be playing in. So just all I can say is that I’m really excited. I mean we’re two games away from going to Brazil.
“I think that in the back of my mind, it’s unbelievable to be in this position. As I said, go in, win those playoffs, and then come come in for Ireland, and get to Brazil. That’s the only thing on my mind, so I’m excited.”
There is ‘something special’ about playing in Cork says O’Sullivan
O’Sullivan had missed Ireland’s most recent trip to Cork due to suspension, the midfielder was not going to miss this one. The Irish number 10 marked the occasion with a Player of the Match performance and a goal,
“A bit of relief when I hit it in” O’Sullivan said. “It’s always nice to score. I think the most important thing is the team performance and we got the win. It’s nice to score in Cork. The crowd was really loud so I’m always proud to play here.
“I mean, playing in Cork, we say it at the end of every game: there’s something special about it. There was 10,000 there tonight, but it seemed like so much more because they [were] just were so loud from first minute to 90 minutes.
“So you know, we really appreciate it, and we absolutely love playing here. And hopefully, we can continue to play more games here as well.”
Marissa Sheva ‘changed the game’ lauds O’Sullivan
Ireland somewhat labored to a 1-0 lead at half time, it was only with the second half substitutions that the Girls in Green really came to life. Marissa Sheva was foremost among that number and The Halfway Line asked O’Sullivan about her performance,
“I said it to Maz [Marissa Sheva] at the end of the game that she was excellent when she came in” O’Sullivan declared. “I thought she changed the dynamic of the game. I think she shifted the energy. She brought a lot of energy. She was getting on the ball a lot.
“So credit to Maz. I think you know, anytime Maz is called upon, she steps up to the mark, and her growth has been incredible over the past few years. So it’s a credit to her and what she’s doing away away from camp as well.”
Denise O’Sullivan delights in ‘professional’ Ireland performance
That side was Wales, and Ireland would be defeated and miss out on qualification to EURO 2025, O’Sullivan was asked if the performance against Kazakhstan had shades of the Georgia showing in Tallaght,
“I think you see Shanade [Hopcroft] coming in, making an impact. I think you know Jamie Finn stepping up the other night for 90 minutes. So I think having all these players in in these camps, getting minutes and being ready for for what’s to come in six weeks, because we’re going to need every single person, and we’re all going to have to come in and be 100%”
