Ward relieved to have 'world class' O'Sullivan for crunch double-header

Ireland's Denise O'Sullivan. Pic: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

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 upcoming 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.

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.” 

Poland have Barcelona star Ewa Pajor and Bayern Munich’s Natalia Padilla leading the line. 

Unlike Ireland, they reached last year’s Euro finals and already have taken a slight advantage by holding the Dutch.

In reality, Ireland require four points from six against their nearest rivals to avoid finishing bottom, a scenario that relegates them to League B but also toughens the route to a second successive World Cup. 

They finish the campaign by welcoming Netherlands to Pairc Uí Chaoimh on June 5 before travelling to Grenoble in France for the final match three days later.

“Four points would put us in a very good position,” noted Ward. “I have ambitions of getting points from all four of our remaining games.

“We’ve shown in the first two games we can definitely get points from anybody.

“Would four points put us in a nailed on third? You would argue because that would mean Poland would have to go and get at least four points from their last two qualifiers.” 

Bohemians teen Aoibhe Brennan was the big winner within the squad by earning her first senior call-up. 

Tara O’Hanlon and Jamie Finn were both excluded from the last panel while there are doubts over Lily Agg (Achilles) and Jessie Stapelton (calf).

Ireland women’s squad:

Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton FC), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic), Grace Moloney (Sunderland).

Defenders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal FC), Anna Patten (Aston Villa FC), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), Aoife Mannion (Newcastle United), Jessie Stapleton (Nottingham Forest - loan), Chloe Mustaki (Nottingham Forest).

Midfielders: Denise O'Sullivan (Liverpool), Tyler Toland (Durham), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Marissa Sheva (Sunderland), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Ruesha Littlejohn (Crystal Palace), Jess Ziu (West Ham United), Lily Agg (Durham), Aoibhe Brennan (Bohemians).

Forwards: Saoirse Noonan (Celtic FC), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Leanne Kiernan (Nottingham Forest - loan), Emily Murphy (Newcastle United), Kyra Carusa (Kansas City Current - loan), Amber Barrett (Strasbourg).