'We know Denise is world-class': Ward relieved to have O'Sullivan for crunch double-header

O’Sullivan, who ended her decade on the US club circuit in January, missed the game in Utrecht with a knee injury that has since cleared up to facilitate her comeback.

Mon, 30 Mar, 2026 - 15:03

John Fallon

Carla Ward can’t be certain if Denise O’Sullivan’s presence would have helped pinch a point in Netherlands but she’s relieved to have the Corkwoman for the Poland double-header.

Ireland are already guaranteed entry into the World Cup playoffs later this year by virtue of beating League A nation Belgium last October but the mission is to finish third in their top-tier group.

The benefit is a seemingly easier path through the playoffs to the finals in Brazil next year.

Narrow 2-1 defeats to top seeds France and Netherlands in this month’s opening pair of qualifiers, while the Poles collected a point off the Dutch, applies pressure on Ireland to accrue results in the games being played in Gdansk on Tuesday, April 14 and Lansdowne Road five days later.

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O’Sullivan, who ended her decade on the US club circuit in January, missed the game in Utrecht with a knee injury that has since cleared up to facilitate her comeback for Liverpool’s last two club games.

“Hindsight is a wonderful thing, isn’t it?,” pondered Ward about the midfielder’s absence.

“We know how important Denise is because she’s a world-class individual.

“I often say that I knew she was good but working with her you realise just how good she is and the quality she brings.

“So, naturally, she’s a huge loss to any team.

“But the players that played against the Dutch were outstanding and deserve an awful lot of credit.

“We competed in both games, as well as the two against Belgium, showing we can compete against the best.

“We have to use that as fuel, use that energy to go into these next two games.” All of Ireland’s World Cup ambitions rest on the shoulders of the women after the men bowed out in the playoff semi-final on Thursday in Czechia.

“I was absolutely gutted the other night, as I’m sure everybody was,” Ward said about the penalty shootout loss.

“I think what Heimir’s done, in terms of turning things around and reconnecting the nation with the men’s national team, is something that should be celebrated.

“He’s done a lot of work behind the scenes which I see every single day because I work very closely with him.

“If anyone had deserved it after the last few years, it would have been him.”

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