A bright future beckons for Savannah McCarthy

On Sunday afternoon, Kerry Native Savannah McCarthy captained Ireland to their second victory in three games in UEFA Under-19 Elite qualifiers at Tallaght Stadium and after the game she spoke to Extratime.ie about her side’s performance and her excellent underage international career.

“It was really good,” she said about her side’s performance after a 2-0 victory against Poland. “Obviously we started off the game [positively]. we created loads of chances but the final finish didn’t happen.

“I think we went in at half-time and regrouped. I think the second-half was completely different, we came out on top and as you can see in the 49th minute we scored our first goal and we went on from there.”

When asked if Hayley Nolan’s spot kick changed the game, McCarthy explained that it helped her side to relax into the game before Dearbhaile Beirne wrapped up the victory late on with an excellently taken goal.

“Yeah definitely, I think it just relaxed us. Obviously it was a must win game, but Hayley converted that penalty really really well and we went on from there. Dearbhaile scored a cracker as well.”

After keeping back-to-back clean sheets in their final two outings after a narrow 1-0 loss to Germany the defender revealed she was delighted with the way her side have played against both Poland and Azerbaijan.

McCarthy praised the team's defensive record after they conceded just one goal in three three games.

“I think with Keeva [Keenan] we’ve been together for five years and I think our partnership is really good. We understand each other well, but it was a group effort and the players [who started] and the players who come off the bench were phenomenal.”

When asked what impact a strong home crowd had on the Ireland girls, McCarthy was quick to praise the fans while she also admitted it was good to be able play in front of her family and friends.

“You can see the support has been amazing and having the support with us today was even better so I think it’s down to the supports definitely and to have all our family and friends there it was really good.”

Despite defeating Poland and Azerbaijan, Ireland were eliminated and McCarthy, who turned 19 last month, has made her final underage appearance for Ireland. She admitted she will look back on the last five years with fond memories.

“All I can say is the last five years for me playing under age have been the best moments of my life, we got to the European Finals [in 2014]. We came close [to winning, before being beaten in the semi-finals].”

With the closing of one door another one opened for Savannah last November when she received her first senior international call-up and she is hoping she can establish herself in the starting eleven after making her debut at the recent Cyprus Cup against Austria.

“When Sue [Ronan] called me into the squad [last year] I was involved in the Spain qualifier and I got into the 18. I went on from there [to going to] America and I came back and went to Cyprus.

“It was really positive in Cyprus. I came on against Austria and to make my first start against Italy was phenomenal and the same against Hungary.

“I’ve enjoyed it and that’s my next aim now to get myself into the senior squad and I’m going to do everything I can in my power to do that.”

In January, after a successful spell at Galway WFC and UCD Waves McCarthy was given the opportunity to join Scottish powerhouse Glasgow City and she feels that the move to Scotland will benefit her going forward.

“As you can see with the Irish games so many are being called off, but at least over in Scotland there's games on every week and I’m playing with all international players, so that’s really good. We are training every day and that’s been a really big help.”