Denise O’Sullivan signs new two-year deal with North Carolina Courage

Republic of Ireland international Denise O’Sullivan has signed a new two-year deal with North Carolina Courage.

O’Sullivan, an Irish International, has been a lynchpin in midfield since joining the Courage in 2017, and she was voted MVP by her teammates in both 2018 and 2019.

She has been instrumental in securing Courage’s back- to- back NWSL Championships and three consecutive NWSL Shields.

Her coach, Paul Riley, enthused about her contribution to the Courage saying: ‘’Sully has been an integral part of our club’s success.

“She is the engine room, the architect, the inspiration and the leader of a very good midfield unit. She is a pocket battleship with skill, vision and the heart of a lion. 

“The future bodes well for the club when we can sign our best players to long term contracts.”

Cork native O’Sullivan, who is 27, started her career with Wilton Utd in Cork before joining the newly-formed Cork City at the outset of the Women’s National League in 2011.

She went on to have two seasons with Peamount Utd before signing her first professional contract with Glasgow Celtic of the Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL) in July 2013.

After a successful spell at Glasgow, where she was voted 2014 SWPL Player of the Year, she moved to the USA and signed with Houston Dash in the NWSL in 2016, before then moving to the Courage in 2017.

Denise has represented the Republic of Ireland national team on 80 occasions and was also named FAI Senior International Player of the Year in 2015.