Denise O'Sullivan ‘excited' by unique benefit she'll have over Ireland teammates when USA friendlies arrive
DENISE O'Sullivan is available for Ireland's back-to-back friendlies against the USA later this month.
But captain Katie McCabe will, as expected, sit out the Stateside tour to prevent burnout.
Advertisement
2
Katie McCabe earns a well needed rest
2
Huge boost for Ireland to have Denise O'Sullivan for US tour
And manager Carla Ward revealed that 'a number' of players
O'Sullivan, 31, is in the middle of a busy season with North Carolina Courage.
But the Cork native pledged: 'I'll be in the US. It's my one week in the whole year I get off from Courage, but that's OK.
"I'm happy to play because any chance I get to play for my country, I want to be there.
Advertisement
Read more on Irish football
'I'm excited. For once, I don't have to travel 20 hours. I won't have jet lag, but the rest will.
"USA are a top, top team and we can go out to challenge ourselves. It will be a brilliant experience.'
O'Sullivan's trip home ended with mixed emotions after Ireland secured a
That fell well short of the four-goal win required for promotion to League A of the Nations League.
Advertisement
Most read in Football
Live Blog
Exclusive
The star midfielder admitted: 'I'm definitely disappointed. We wanted to get the 4-0 win, but the team played really well, especially in the first half.
"We created a lot of chances and we had to put those away.
Watch Robbie Brady aim hilarious dig at Ireland teammates after winning Player of the Year award
'In the second half, we moved away from the game plan. We could have played a bit more.
"The space was there to do it, to keep building, and that's how we created chances in the first half.
Advertisement
'Definitely mixed emotions, but we gave it our all.'
PLAY-OFF PROSPECTS
The Girls in Green will get a second chance against one of Austria, Iceland, Belgium, or Denmark in a two-legged promotion/relegation play-off next October.
The winners will also be guaranteed a play-off spot for the 2027 World Cup. Ireland's opponents will be revealed in a draw at midday tomorrow.
O'Sullivan insisted: 'At least having another chance is a positive. We want to be at that World Cup in Brazil.
Advertisement
"That
'It still hurts a lot because the pain hasn't gone from that game.'
The agony of missing out on Euro 2025 will only increase when the tournament kicks off next month in Switzerland.
O'Sullivan said: 'I think I'll be switching the TV off, doing everything I can not to watch it. But I have team-mates from Courage playing in it.
Advertisement
Since
'I know I'm saying I'll be switching the TV off, but I'll watch to cheer them on. It's still devastating not to be there, for sure.'
O'Sullivan believes the switch remains a work in progress, adding: 'It took a long time to find our feet. We're still trying to get used to the way Carla and the staff want us to play, but five wins out of six is positive.
'It will definitely take time. The way Carla and the staff are implementing her style of play, it doesn't happen overnight.
Advertisement
'You can see even in the first half how we created a number of chances. As a team, we want to keep doing that and get better.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
The Lions have a warning for Australia ahead of opening contests
The British and Irish Lions have warned Australia they will be in breach of contract if they fail to release their Test stars for all tour games involving Super Rugby teams. Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt has allowed Western Force players Nick Champion De Crespigny, Dylan Pietsch, Tom Robertson, Darcy Swain and Nic White to take part in Saturday's first match Down Under in Perth. However, all those from the Reds, Waratahs and Brumbies, including big names such as Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Rob Valetini, will not face the Lions until the Test series. Given Australia's lack of depth, Schmidt is keen to avoid picking up any injuries while their warm-up fixture against Fiji in Newcastle on July 6, which takes place the day after the tourists meet the Waratahs, is another obstacle. However, Lions chief executive Ben Calveley has reminded the hosts of the terms of the tour contract, knowing Andy Farrell's men want to play the toughest possible opposition to provide adequate preparation for the opening Test on July 19. 'We'll see a competitive fixture at the weekend and that's what we're looking for. We want to make sure our guys are battle-hardened when it comes to the Test series,' Calveley said. 'The agreement is very clear – it says that Test players have to be released to play in fixtures leading into that series. That is our expectation. 'We'll play the game at the weekend and will carry on having discussions with (Rugby Australia chief executive) Phil Waugh and will take it step by step. 'It's really important that these games are competitive. It's not just from a performance standpoint but it's also right for the fans, partners and broadcasters, who are all expecting competitive fixtures. That would be their expectation as well.' Calveley declined to reveal what action the Lions could take if Schmidt will not be budged from his current policy, but it is clear the tourists hold all the aces given the vast revenue they generate for hosting countries. A sold-out Aviva Stadium turned red for Friday night's send-off in a display of commercial power from the elite of British and Irish rugby, who continue to be a huge draw. Argentina won an entertaining but scrappy game 28-24 and given they are positioned three places higher than the Wallabies in the global ranking in fifth, they could be viewed as a more credible tour destination than Australia. There are also calls for France to be added to the current rotation that is completed by South Africa and New Zealand. For now, however, fixtures against other nations will be bolt-ons to existing destinations rather than stand-alone tours. 'There are different teams around the world that we might be interested in playing against in future. Traditionally that's been consigned to a pre-tour element – Dublin, Murrayfield – so we'll probably focus on that,' Calveley said. 'We're also interested when we go away on tour to see if we can bring in other countries like Japan and Fiji to feature in those games as we build up to the Test element. 'We're open and we're flexible, but right now there are no plans to change the rotation of the tour structure.' Calveley was speaking at a 'Welcome to Country' ceremony, a 20-minute First Nations cultural experience held in in Perth's Kings Park.
RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
Behind the Story: Saipan the movie and what next for Iran?
It was an event that divided the country: Roy Keane headed home from Saipan on the eve of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Following a public exchange of words with then-manager Mick McCarthy, the Corkonian decided enough was enough. Now a new film from the producers of Kneecap and Cocaine Bear will tell the contentious tale of what went on in one of the most-talked-about moments in recent Irish sporting history. The trailer, which dropped today, includes the tagline 'Choose your side'. But what side are Fran and Katie on? Also, major changes are on the way for Irish students hoping to head stateside for the summer. It means those applying for an F, M, or J non-immigrant visa will have to set all their social media accounts to 'public'. Exchange visitor - or J - visas are non-immigrant visas for people to participate in exchange visitor programs in the United States. This includes J1 visas for Irish students. Other J categories include things like au pair work, interning and summer work and travel. Meanwhile what is next for Iran and could the conflict with Israel see a major geopolitical shift after US involvement? Graham Finlay from the UCD School of Politics and International Relations joins Fran and Katie to discuss what it could mean for us all.
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
French star Louise Landgraf seals Flogas Irish Women's Amateur Open Championship glory
French teenager Louise Landgraf said it was a breakthrough victory as she secured the Flogas Irish Women's Amateur Open Championship after a stunning finale in Headfort. The 16-year-old from Golf Club de Toulouse shot another round of 69 to finish up on -9, four shots clear of her nearest rival, Welsh golfer Carys Worby (Newport Links). Landgraf and Worby were the only two players to finish under par with another French, Kirra St-Laurent (Biarritz Le Phare), rounding out the top three on +1. Anna Dawson (Tramore) was the best of the Irish after she posted a round of 70 on Monday, with Hannah Lee-McNamara (Royal Portrush) two shots in arrears and Aideen Walsh (Lahinch) one further back on +5. But it was Landgraf who sealed a precious victory and she will take plenty of inspiration from last year's winner Anna Dawson, who has since gone on to play in the Ladies European Tour. 'The course is really nice and I definitely can tick this one off the list and move on to the next but it's been an amazing tournament,' said Landgraf. 'She (Worby) definitely kept me on my toes on the front nine and she's a great player and she definitely put a lot of pressure on so well deserved to her too. I was really stressed and there was a lot of pressure but I just tried to play my own game and stay focused and have fun. 'I've been struggling the past couple months so finally to have this breakthrough is great for my confidence and great for the next tournament. 'I'm really happy with how I played and I'm just going to continue what I'm doing.' Landgraf took a one-shot lead into the final day ahead of Worby, and while their playing partner St-Laurent fell back with a double-bogey on the second, it was left for Landgraf and Worby to battle it out at the top of the standings. The Welsh golfer had three birdies in her first five holes but a bogey at seven halted her momentum and she would drop two more shots coming in at 13 and 17. There was a two-shot swing on the first, when Landgraf bogeyed, but birdies on five, seven and ten helped her retain the ascendency. And she was imperious on the back nine with three birdies and just the one bogey. Dawson provided the biggest Irish challenge, and despite a bogey on the first she pushed on with birdies on the second, fourth and 12th. She shot a brilliant round of 70 but it wasn't enough to breach the top-three while Langraf consolidated her power at the top. The French youngster will be playing Junior Vagliano later this week where she will line out against Irish star Lee-McNamara and confidence is high after she produced her best golf in front of the biggest crowds of the weekend in Headfort. 'It's definitely a lot of eyes staring at you at one time, so you definitely have that added pressure as well as trying to score your best and not try to disappoint the crowd but I played great out there and put on a good show, so hopefully they're happy,' said Landgraf. 'I like to stay in my own game, in my own little bubble but to have them there was really special. He (Dad) obviously does so many things for me so it's great to share this victory with him.'
