IRELAND HEAD COACH Carla Ward has challenged other players to step up in the absence of captain Katie McCabe — and Kyra Carusa — for Greece 2.0.
Carusa has been ruled out of tomorrow’s return tie at Tallaght Stadium [KO 7.30pm, live on RTÉ 2] with a quad injury, while McCabe is suspended after picking up her second yellow card of the Nations League campaign in Friday’s 4-0 win in Crete.
McCabe only played the second half as she managed a calf strain, and was creator-in-chief as Ireland scored four goals following a laboured opening period. The Arsenal star has since departed camp, replaced in the squad by Shelbourne midfielder Alex Kavanagh.
Carusa’s unavailability was breaking news this morning, but Ward is confident the void left by the first-choice centre-forward — who scored her 11th international goal on Friday — can be filled accordingly.
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“It’s an opportunity for others,” Ward told her pre-match press conference of the losses.
“Amber [Barrett] came on and did tremendously well. Saoirse Noonan’s been absolutely brilliant since she’s come in. There’s a lot of people in those areas that can step into their shoes. When one door closes, another one opens for some individuals. I think that other people need to step up and take their opportunity.
“I’ve said it many times, we’ve got a tremendously good squad, we’ve got an abundance of quality, great people, a togetherness and a willingness to learn.”
Sitting beside her was “one of the best pros I’ve ever worked with,” Denise O’Sullivan, recently-engaged and happy to show off her ring. The North Carolina Courage captain is set to skipper Ireland again on her 123rd cap, and echoed her manager’s sentiments.
O'Sullivan showing off her ring. Tom Maher / INPHO
Tom Maher / INPHO / INPHO
“Katie is a top, top player. You always want your captain around but I think it is important for other players to step up now. It is an opportunity for other players to represent their country and do the job.
“Of course we will miss Katie but we have a lot of other leaders in the team and really good players that can come in and make a difference. I see it as a positive as well.”
Ward said she wasn’t frustrated with McCabe’s unnecessary yellow card in Crete after a “hospital ball,” and offered an update on her calf issue as she returns to Arsenal for club duty.
“Slight reaction, not a massive reaction. It’s important with Arsenal and what’s coming up, it’s a case of trying to get that calf now right. If she wasn’t suspended we all know Katie would be here, and yes we probably would have had to manage minutes again.
“But the fact that she is suspended I think it’s really important that she can get that calf right, not just for Arsenal but we have two massive games again in May and June, so I think the right decision has been made.”
Out of action: Kyra Carusa and Katie McCabe miss tomorrow's game. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Both manager and stand-in skipper are guarding against complacency ahead of tomorrow night’s game against the lowly Greeks, for which over 6,000 tickets have been sold or distributed.
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“We can’t be complacent,” said O’Sullivan. “They have threats, they’re a good team.
“For us, it’s not being complacent, putting our foot on the gas and going from the first minute. We love playing in Tallaght in front of our fans, it’s a big game for us and really important.
“Let’s be really clear: Friday night means absolutely nothing unless we win on Tuesday,” Ward added. “We know that as a group, collectively as staff and players, we have to go and win the game.”
Heather Payne is set to be available for selection after a recent ankle injury, while Megan Campbell did not to train fully this morning as her load is typically managed.
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'Other people need to step up and take their opportunity' as Ireland without McCabe and Carusa
IRELAND HEAD COACH Carla Ward has challenged other players to step up in the absence of captain Katie McCabe — and Kyra Carusa — for Greece 2.0.
Carusa has been ruled out of tomorrow’s return tie at Tallaght Stadium [KO 7.30pm, live on RTÉ 2] with a quad injury, while McCabe is suspended after picking up her second yellow card of the Nations League campaign in Friday’s 4-0 win in Crete.
McCabe only played the second half as she managed a calf strain, and was creator-in-chief as Ireland scored four goals following a laboured opening period. The Arsenal star has since departed camp, replaced in the squad by Shelbourne midfielder Alex Kavanagh.
Carusa’s unavailability was breaking news this morning, but Ward is confident the void left by the first-choice centre-forward — who scored her 11th international goal on Friday — can be filled accordingly.
“It’s an opportunity for others,” Ward told her pre-match press conference of the losses.
“Amber [Barrett] came on and did tremendously well. Saoirse Noonan’s been absolutely brilliant since she’s come in. There’s a lot of people in those areas that can step into their shoes. When one door closes, another one opens for some individuals. I think that other people need to step up and take their opportunity.
“I’ve said it many times, we’ve got a tremendously good squad, we’ve got an abundance of quality, great people, a togetherness and a willingness to learn.”
Sitting beside her was “one of the best pros I’ve ever worked with,” Denise O’Sullivan, recently-engaged and happy to show off her ring. The North Carolina Courage captain is set to skipper Ireland again on her 123rd cap, and echoed her manager’s sentiments.
“Katie is a top, top player. You always want your captain around but I think it is important for other players to step up now. It is an opportunity for other players to represent their country and do the job.
“Of course we will miss Katie but we have a lot of other leaders in the team and really good players that can come in and make a difference. I see it as a positive as well.”
Ward said she wasn’t frustrated with McCabe’s unnecessary yellow card in Crete after a “hospital ball,” and offered an update on her calf issue as she returns to Arsenal for club duty.
“Slight reaction, not a massive reaction. It’s important with Arsenal and what’s coming up, it’s a case of trying to get that calf now right. If she wasn’t suspended we all know Katie would be here, and yes we probably would have had to manage minutes again.
“But the fact that she is suspended I think it’s really important that she can get that calf right, not just for Arsenal but we have two massive games again in May and June, so I think the right decision has been made.”
Both manager and stand-in skipper are guarding against complacency ahead of tomorrow night’s game against the lowly Greeks, for which over 6,000 tickets have been sold or distributed.
“We can’t be complacent,” said O’Sullivan. “They have threats, they’re a good team.
“For us, it’s not being complacent, putting our foot on the gas and going from the first minute. We love playing in Tallaght in front of our fans, it’s a big game for us and really important.
“Let’s be really clear: Friday night means absolutely nothing unless we win on Tuesday,” Ward added. “We know that as a group, collectively as staff and players, we have to go and win the game.”
Heather Payne is set to be available for selection after a recent ankle injury, while Megan Campbell did not to train fully this morning as her load is typically managed.
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