Roche hopes nomination 'can help promote women's football'

By John Fallon, Zurich

Stephanie Roche is hoping that her feat of pushing James Rodríguez close for the Fifa Puskás Goal of the Year acts as a springboard for women’s football in Ireland and beyond.

The Ireland winger captured 33% of the 3.3 million votes cast in the public poll of the greatest goal in the world between October 2013 and 2014.

Although she surpassed the one million mark, she was 9% short of Rodriguez, while Robin Van Persie finished the last of the three contenders on 11%.

Speaking after the gala ceremony at Kongresshalle in Zurich, the 25-year-old was understandably disappointed while keeping in perspective the strides made by a goal she scored in front of 95 people for Peamount United against Wexford Youths.

“I would like to congratulate James for winning the award,” she said.

“I am disappointed but, at the same time, I must thank all the people that voted for me back in Ireland and around the world.

“My hope now is that getting to this stage with the goal can help promote women’s football by getting more publicity.

“By becoming the first woman to reach the final three, it just goes to show that we can compete with the men’s players.”