A journey is as much about where you’re coming from as it is about where you’re going but after Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to USA, Louise Quinn put it more eloquently when reflecting on what was the 14th successive defeat to the country Ireland have played more than anyone else.
One of the toughest games you can play is against the US,” was her view, “but the difference of where we were to where we are now is huge. And still a way to go.” Quinn has played enough of the scattering of 5-0s that have marred this fixture in recent history to know that beyond the professional disdain of accepting defeat, this one felt like it had a different texture.
Less than a couple of months since the hosts were coursed by the Germans – we’ll assume they were as the reported 5-0 defeat was staged away from prying eyes – and an undistinguished outing against China, Austin welcomed a side who felt like they belonged on the world stage.
The back-to-back defending World Cup champions were parading what many felt would be their starting line-up when they open their campaign against Vietnam in New Zealand this July.
Until they wilted beyond the hour mark, the visitors had held their own and arguablycreated chances good enough to have snaffled a lead goal which, on the evidence of a nine-match unbeaten run with seven successive clean sheets, they would have rigorously defended.
As usual, their understandable inability to hold onto the ball – the USA had 70pc possession – compounded the lack of a goal that they could cling onto.
That they were ultimately undone by a goal comprising of an individual error (Heather Payne), sloppy defending from the back three, and poor positioning from the hitherto excellent Courtney Brosnan will anger them.
On another day, Trinity Rodman’s hat-trick of chances might have served up a rout but, aside from the feeling one derived from the contest – difficult enough to grasp in a press box which may as well have been located in downtown Austin – 2-0 seemed to be an accurate reflection of the 90 minutes as it was a prediction by this writer beforehand.
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The manager had a quickfire post-match meeting with the press as the squad scurried to a Missouri-bound flight ahead of tomorrow night’s second friendly in St Louis but almost every question to Vera Pauw reverted back to the story of the night.
Much has been spoken of the emotional impact of Sinead Farrelly’s (left) return to the sport after almost eight years away, never mind her emergence on a stage such as this.
“Always possible” screamed the newly-unfurled US Soccer logo, emblazoned in large white letters on the centre circle of the Q2 Stadium pitch in Austin. One wonders how many times these words thundered through her mind, in those days and weeks and years that she had been forced to deny herself the thing she loved the most but which had caused her the most pain?
Prominent
Even before the whistle blew, the sport’s most prominent whistleblower scanned her eyes across the line and watched double World Cup-winner Julia Ertz receiver a presentation for 100 caps.
There was once a time when many folks Stateside touted a similar career trajectory for the 33-year-old daughter of Cavan; an underage star, she seemed like a 2011 prospect but then withdrew, never to return.
Life would later confirm a complete removal from the sport; first, a car crash but then the appalling sexual coercion and harassment of a now banned coach.
And yet here she was, having returned to the sport for the first time in eight years last week in domestic fare, suddenly re-emerging and confronting the land that created, then destroyed her promise.
Speaking afterwards, she admitted that it was as if no time had passed at all and that the field that once held her dreams, before crushing them, had once more become a safe space for her.
Pauw and 100-cap captain Denise O’Sullivan spoke of how her skill and calmness can free up the ball; at times, it was as if the ball freed Farrelly up too.
As a moment of personal rehabilitation, there was something truly inspirational about the fact that she can re-discover her passion and now it opens up broad possibilities not just for her, but for Ireland too. Following on from Aoife Mannion’s debut in February, copper-fastened by another assured display here, Farrelly must surely be added as a nailed-on certainty to start against Australia on July 20.
Aside from making herself feel better, she makes this team perform better; the unveiling of Kyra Carusa as a target woman – rather than deploying a willing but isolated running option – invited more options in build-up play, allowing them to play shorter, more precise passes.
This remains a concern, and too many balls are still lost in going back to front without intent, but, shape-wise at least, this was a more coherent Ireland.
A bit like the journey of their newest member, it is becoming a little more familiar with every passing day.