STEADY PROGRESS IS better than none at all but there comes a time when ‘almost’ isn’t good enough anymore.
For Ireland, there have been signs of encouragement over the past 18 months. The World Cup qualifying campaign provided grounds for optimism and although it ultimately ended in disappointment, Sue Ronan’s young side weren’t far off.
Five victories in 10 games wasn’t a bad return and was very nearly enough to seal a play-off berth – but near misses have become an all too familiar story.
Last month’s defeat to Finland in Tallaght was the worst possible start to the new Euro 2017 qualifying campaign and a result which leaves Ireland playing catch-up in Group 2.
Tuesday afternoon’s game [3pm Irish time] in Portugal has now taken on an added significance. Another reversal would leave Ireland’s hopes hanging by a thread – just two games in.
“It was an extremely disappointing way to begin,” Niamh Fahey tells The42. “We went into the game full of confidence and we just made a couple of mistakes and it passed us by.
“We’re still upbeat though. We’ve had a couple of good sessions and have identified the areas we’ve needed to improve on. They’re small things.”
Fahey is one of 11 players in the squad currently playing club football abroad. The defender has become an integral part of Chelsea’s all-conquering side and has already tasted league and cup success during her time with the club.
The 28-year-old joined the Blues in April after eight seasons with Arsenal and became the first Irish woman to win the FA Cup at Wembley in August.
“It was nerve wracking at the start,” Fahey says of her switch across London. “It’s such a professional set-up at Chelsea and I’ve really enjoyed it and couldn’t be happier.”
Throughout her career in England, winning has become a habit for Fahey. The former Galway player has won 11 major honours and now she’s determined to bring that trait to the international set-up.
“We’ve got loads of experience in the squad,” she continues. “So many of the girls are now playing away and that experience should work in our favour.
“We’ve been talking about qualifying for this and that for years and we have made steady progress but there have been too many hard luck stories.
“We need to stand up, push on and deliver now and start qualifying for tournaments.”
On the face of it, the individual components are in working order but the onus is now on converting club form into performances on the international stage, starting this afternoon.
Whether it’s a point or all three, Ireland know they must open their account in Moreira De Cónego. Failure to do so and we might well be looking back on another ‘almost’ campaign.
