IRELAND captain Katie McCabe wants to lift the Girls in Green after “one of the worst” moments of her life against Wales.
McCabe will lead Ireland out tomorrow in Tallaght for the UEFA Nations League opener with Turkiye in what is new gaffer Carla Ward’s first game in charge.
Ward has replaced Eileen Gleeson’s following Ireland’s failure to reach Euro 2025 as they lost the play-off with Wales 3-2 on aggregate.
And Arsenal star McCabe admitted that she is still getting over the defeat last December
She said: “Some of the best feelings I have had in my life have been on a football pitch, both good and bad.
“That day in the Aviva was definitely one of the worst for sure. 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 high performance environment.
“We were straight back into club football. You have to move on quickly. There’s always the next game around the corner.
“But when we came in on Monday, there was a real energy and enthusiasm in the whole squad. We wanted to impress Carla straight away, to get that jersey on Friday.
“Yes, Wales was disappointing for us but we need to change our mindset, look at how we can improve off that 18 months of unbelievable work under Eileen and Colin (Healy).
“We need to put that forward for the next two years towards the World Cup.”
McCabe also paid tribute to the work of former gaffer Gleeson and assistant Colin Healy.
She added: “From our point of view, given the news that obviously Eileen and Colin weren’t going to continue on, it was a shock.
“A lot of the girls were surprised by it, more so 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 in the Aviva.
“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 World Cup in 2027 and that starts tomorrow night with out new manager in place.”
INJURY NEWS
Liverpool striker Leanne Kiernan has been ruled out of tomorrow’s UEFA Nations League clash with Turkiye.
Kiernan, 25, has a calf problem but it is hoped that she will be fit for next Tuesday’s visit to Slovenia.
New boss Ward will select her first side after replacing Eileen Gleeson as manager last month, and admitted that she is just keen to get going now.
She said: “My daughter was to come but she’s been skiing all week so she may be a bit tired.
“I really wanted to get this fully focus with myself on it with this group of players. So I haven’t really invited too many to their dismay.
“Next camp, yes, But I really wanted to focus on only the job in hand. The moment the balls were rolling the other day.
“I couldn’t wait to get out with the players and that’s what you do, it’s your bread and butter and I’m very passionate about what I do.”
