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Montenegro struggled to get to grips with O'Gorman throughout the encounter. Tommy Dickson/INPHO
Making waves

O'Gorman hopes to cement an attacking role after last night's Ireland hat-trick

The UCD Waves player normally appears at right-back for Ireland.

SHE’S USUALLY FOUND at right-back for Ireland but when she got her chance to impress last night, Áine O’Gorman made no mistake.

Montenegro struggled to deal with the UCD Waves player’s lung-busting runs, dangerous crosses and clinical finishing as she finished with a hat-trick in the 9-0 win.

O’Gorman won the Golden Boot this year in the WNL, but the majority of her caps for Sue Ronan’s side since her debut in 2006 have come in defence. Her versatility is a huge asset to any team, but she prefers a striker or winger role.

“It’s nice because that’s where I want to play so I suppose I am helping myself by putting the ball in the net” O’Gorman told The42.

Hopefully I can continue that in more vital games and get more important goals.”

After a disappointing loss to Finland last Friday which ended Ireland’s hopes of qualifying for next year’s European Championships, the Wicklow native was happy with her side’s performance last night.

“I think we all needed a good victory and to play well in front of our home crowd after last week.

“It’s the boost we need and we know we’re capable of playing well and have a bit more confidence now. We all knew that we needed to go out and come together as a team and put in a good shift.

“We added a bit of creative flair and took our chances on goal which was a huge positive and I think now we need to bring that forward into the big games and believe in ourselves a bit more.”

Aine O'Gorman scores her second goal of the game O'Gorman celebrates after putting her second past Ines Obradović Tommy Dickson / INPHO Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO

With just one Euro 2017 qualifier to fulfill against Portugal in September, O’Gorman’s attention now turns to the 2019 World Cup qualifiers on the international front.

“Bigger and better things, I suppose probably now our focus is already turned to the World Cup and to start preparing for that.

“It’s always tougher in the World Cup [qualifiers] because less teams qualify, but we’ll see who we draw and we want to go out there and prepare well and give it our best shot.”

After a busy club season that saw UCD Waves finish as league cup runners-up and third place in the WNL, the 27-year-old is looking forward to some deserved time off.

“We’ll have a little break. Eillo [Waves manager Eileen Gleeson] will have us back in July so there’s not much time for sitting around.

“It’s nice to just get away from it for a while and you’ll be dying to get back training and get back playing then fresh and hopefully onto a more positive season.

“I always have to to keep fit and get ready for holidays as well so I can’t let myself go too much,” the personal trainer and fitness instructor laughs.

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