Denise O’Sullivan’s Tallaght tears of despair turn to tears of joy with Ireland play-off bound

Macdara Ferris reports from Tallaght Stadium

The contrast couldn’t have been greater for the Republic of Ireland between the final group game in Tallaght in this 2023 World Cup Qualifying campaign and their doomed Euro 2022 campaign.

Thursday night Tallaght Stadium saw its biggest ever attendance for a Women’s international, with the crowd close on 7,000 cheering on Ireland to a 1-0 win over Finland as Vera Pauw’s side booked a place in the World Cup play-offs.

Go back nearly two years to the end of the European campaign and Ireland lost at home to Germany 3-1 in a covid restricted empty stadium – that defeat and the 1-0 loss to Ukraine in the previous game stopped Ireland making it to this Summer’s European Championship in England.

Tallaght tears

For Ireland star player Denise O’Sullivan, there were tears at the full time whistle in both games. However, the tears of defeat after the Germany game turned into tears of joy at the final whistle with the win over Finland this week, with the image of her embracing her captain Katie McCabe set to be an iconic image.

“I just dropped to my knees,” said O’Sullivan when she spoke about her reaction at the full time whistle with extratime.com after the match. “It was very emotional. There were definitely a few tears.”

The Ireland players have used missing out on the Euros as motivation to go one better this time around and now they are in a play-off for the World Cup for the very first time. 

“This team has been through a lot and not getting to the Euros was a big blow. It was a nightmare so to get to a play-off is unbelievable.

“Compared to that moment at the end of the Germany game I was dropping on the floor crying. That was a huge blow. It was probably the most heartbreaking time in my career, not making that Euros. Myself and Katie sitting there tonight, so happy. 

“The team has come a long way from 2017 in Liberty Hall (when they protested to  seek better treatment from the FAI). All those girls, Emma Byrne, Yvonne Treacy, Áine O'Gorman, they all came before us, worked really hard and this moment we've done that for them tonight.” 

Finland formation

Finland seemed to out fox Ireland in the first half with their formation and the Girls in Green had difficulty getting to grips with the Finnish system.

“We didn't play well in the first half and a few years ago we might have let that slip and lost the game but it shows how much we have grown as a team. 

“There were definitely some nerves in the first half,” admitted O’Sullivan who earned her 95^th cap in the match in Tallaght. “It was such a huge game. They came out and played a diamond in midfield and we just got stuck in what we needed to do. 

“Going in at half time, Vera just said to us to settle down, get composed on the ball and get our shape again. We did that in the second half. We were a lot more organised and compact and we got them on the break a few times.

“That result was for all those young girls who were at the stadium tonight who look up to us. It was just fantastic. Ireland showed up for us tonight for sure. They were amazing. The stadium was absolutely rocking and they've been with us every step of the way.

“The energy tonight in the stadium kept us going in the last few minutes when we were wrecked. The atmosphere was unbelievable. We are after doing a big thing tonight for Ireland. We are after bringing happiness to the country. 

“I think this is a very special group. We have huge talent within the team, with a mix of experience and youth. Jess Ziu, Heather Payne who are all coming through and are unbelievable talent.”

Katie McCabe: 'To get to a World Cup playoff just a stone’s throw away from my house is pretty special’ https://t.co/dhMCXtKmgapic.twitter.com/VUP1PjesmF

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) September 2, 2022