Denise O'Sullivan: Ireland now have the belief we can beat anybody

'To beat a very good Finland team shows how much we have grown. If we get another top team in the playoffs, we can take on anyone because of that growth'

ICONIC: Denise O'Sullivan, right, and Katie McCabe of Republic of Ireland celebrate after the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 qualifier match between Republic of Ireland and Finland at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Pic: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

Relief and redemption poured from Denise O’Sullivan as she crashed to the Tallaght surface on Thursday night, her embrace with Katie McCabe a picture to befit yesterday’s front pages.

Together they’d soldiered for Ireland through the years, at underage and senior, their international careers failing to keep pace with respective strides on the club circuit.