Confident Áine O’Gorman believes Ireland can still make Euro 2017 in Netherlands

Although Spain, on maximum points, look set to run away with the qualifying group, Ireland international Áine O’Gorman is still confident that the senior women’s team can make it to the Netherlands for next year’s European Championship finals.

After defeats to Spain and Finland, and victory over Portugal, the Irish lie joint third in their five-team group, with whipping girls Montenegro next up away on April 7, followed by a daunting trip to Spain five days later.

But with a second place finish ensuring either automatic qualification or a play-off, international stalwart O’Gorman believes a place in the finals is still attainable. “I thoroughly believe it and I think all of us believe that we can actually qualify,” she said. “We need to go out to Montenegro and do the business. It’s important that we don’t take that game for granted. We still have to go out there and do a job and make sure we get the three points. The game against Finland (away on June 3) is probably going to be a key one. They beat us at home last year so we need to go out there and get some points.”