Looking after No 1: Ireland keeper Brosnan glad to have former critic Byrne in her corner
BYRNE AFTER READING: Goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan and assistant coach Emma Byrne. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Facing down your critics is an occupational hazard of being an Ireland international.
Aiden McGeady endured it when Roy Keane walked in the door of the Ireland camp alongside Martin O’Neill in 2013.
Something similar must have occurred recently after Brian Kerr was parachuted in as technical advisor to a squad, among whom are a chunk of rookies he felt struggled to reach international standard.
Apprehension – rather than tension – was the overriding emotion which Ireland women’s goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan felt when coming face-to-face with Emma Byrne at the Castleknock Hotel last September.
Byrne is in a league of her own when it comes to Ireland’s goalkeeper club. Over 21 years, she earned 134 caps. That complemented her trophy-laden club career at Arsenal.
Their 2007 Champions League triumph remains elusive for English teams since, as does her record haul of caps for fellow internationals.
When Byrne speaks, or writes, people listen and read.
Her view about the goalkeeping situation in 2021 didn’t reflect well on Brosnan, for she advocated dumping the incumbent to facilitate newcomer Megan Walsh due to her regularity of games in the Women’s Super League.
Moreover, a sense lingered that the Everton custodian was, at least partially, culpable for Áine O’Gorman’s own-goal which denied Ireland a winnable playoff for the delayed Euros.
Vera Pauw ignored the external calls by keeping faith with the American. She has more than just consolidated her status but rescued Ireland in crucial matches along the World Cup journey against Sweden, Scotland and Nigeria.
Her haul of 34 caps is the most collected by a stopper since Byrne departed in 2017.
Now, just like Kerr, the legend has swapped the pundit’s seat for one part of the internal staff.
Byrne has rerouted from Eileen Gleeson’s general coach during last year’s Nations League campaign to goalkeeper specialist, dealing directly with the previous source of her flak.
“I came into the squad after Emma left so didn’t know her until we worked together last year,” said New Jersey-born Brosnan, whose graduation from the underage ranks only came in 2020 against Montenegro on the eve of lockdown.
“We didn’t need to clear the air because we're all professionals. If you feel there's a need to clear the air, then we're all adults and can do that.
“Media do their job by having opinions. Everyone will talk about you, and yes, there was the Ukraine own-goal so you must accept criticism.
“Still, I would never take anything anyone says personally. It was difficult but I always believe in my capability to become Ireland’s No 1.
“Emma is really funny - someone who jokes with me and I give her a bit back - but I think she's now my number one fan.”
Writing in her Irish Examiner column on the day after Brosnan’s penalty save at Hampden Park served as a precursor for their playoff victory over Scotland 18 months ago, Byrne confessed she’d never been so glad to be proven wrong.
“Emma is so honest,” her heir noted about the turnaround.
“We've had a lot of discussions about how good she thinks I am and can be, so it's great to have someone like that in your corner.
“Since taking the new goalkeeping role in the last camp for the friendlies against Italy and Wales, she’s open to feedback from myself, Grace Moloney and Sophie Whitehouse.
“It's great to have that relationship where you can be open with your coach and find out what works best for the whole group.”
Erin McLaughlin has been added to the Ireland squad for the games against France and England.
The Peamount United midfielder - who has three caps - joined the squad for training at the FAI National Training Centre on Wednesday, before the party left for France.
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