Katie McCabe: Ireland need to 'look forward' after Healy and Gleeson exits

MOVING ON: Katie McCabe and head coach Carla Ward. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Ireland captain Katie McCabe insists the team must move on despite the shock of Eileen Gleeson and Colin Healy losing their job.

The FAI discarded the management team within eight days of the Euro playoff defeat to Wales, appointing Carla Ward in succession for the Nations League campaign kicking off on Friday.

Healy’s exit, in particular, remains controversial.

He subsequently revealed a contract extension was assured by the FAI, bar a heavy playoff defeat, but that impression was dismissed by chief executive David Courell as a ‘misunderstanding’.

Wales claimed the place at the Switzerland-hosted finals through a 3-2 aggregate victory.

“From our point of view, given the news that obviously Eileen and Colin weren’t going to continue on, it was a shock,” said Arsenal star McCabe ahead of their opener against Turkey at Tallaght Stadium (7.30pm).

“A lot of the girls were surprised by it - moreso from the point of like how well we got on and the spirit they had for us, the connection and the good environment they created.

“I want to say a big thanks to Eileen and Colin for everything they’ve done.

“They brought in a real energy and freshness to this team when they took over for that first game at Lansdowne against Northern Ireland. We’ve created unbelievable, special moments together.

“We went on a really nice run in the Nations League, got a massive result down in Cork against France. We’ve had some really amazing moments.

“Unfortunately for us we didn’t qualify for the Euros and the FAI made a decision off the back of that.

“So for us as players now we need to look forward and as I said we need to start looking towards how we’re going to qualify for the World Cup in 2027 and that starts tomorrow night with our new manager in place.” 

It was the first media appearance for McCabe since the second leg in Dublin, a match Ireland lost 2-1 to miss out on back-to-back tournaments.

“Some of the best feelings I have had in my life have been on a football pitch but that day was definitely one of the worst for sure,” she explained.

“It was so disappointing. Just given the stadium, the fans, the energy that they gave us.

“You feel like you have the responsibility of young girls’ futures on your shoulders. You feel that responsibility having had the connection with the fans for so long.

“What we do on the pitch matters for women’s football in Ireland and the future of grassroots football and development squads, and this and that. It was devastating.

“I was in a really low place afterwards. It goes to show you the highs and lows of a high performance environment.” 

Ward has only confirmed absentee, as Liverpool’s Leanne Kiernan misses out with a calf injury. They complete the League B double-header against Slovenia in Koper on Tuesday.