Sinead Farrelly: ‘I feel really honoured and proud to wear the Ireland jersey and represent this country’

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Cahal McAuley reports from Austin

The Republic of Ireland of Ireland suffered back-to-back defeats in the United States in their two game friendly series despite two highly competitive performances against the world champions. 

There were many positives to take from the trip for Vera Pauw’s squad, but one of the most intriguing developments from the camp was the sudden call-up and first Irish appearance for 33-year-old midfielder Sinead Farrelly. She recently returned to the National Women’s Soccer League with NY/NJ Gotham FC after six years out of the game. 

Farrelly, who retired from the league in 2016 has been making her way back into the top level of the U.S. domestic game, training with the Irish squad in Texas before receiving her first full call-up just days before the first fixture against USWNT. 

Having played just a handful of minutes at club level for the better part of a decade, she did not look at all out of place in Austin, putting in an energetic performance and threatening the goal of the world’s top ranked side on more than one occasion as a fatigued but beaming Farrelly reflected on after full-time. 

“I feel relieved to get the first one out of the way, it was fun to get out there and meet all the girls. I’m tired because that’s the most I’ve played in a very long time,” she said when speaking to extratime.com in the Q2 Stadium directly after her Ireland debut. 

“I feel really honoured and proud to wear the Ireland jersey and represent this country. It’s such a big part of my family, but I definitely am overwhelmed by some of the emotions right now and I don’t know what I’m feeling.”

After such a long-time away from the game and a nearly yearlong journey to make it back to fitness, the last week has been something of a whirlwind for Farelly who was not expecting be involved so heavily, despite being in contact with Pauw for some time beforehand. 

“I originally just came in to train so I didn’t really know it was an option to stay, and so I practiced with the girls. Again, I think this journey back to soccer has been wild, so I’ve just had to stay grounded and be present,” Farrelly said. 

“It wasn’t even on my radar to play again, it was last July that I decided to come back and then at that time I was starting at zero so I didn’t know where I would get to but once I was trying to play in the U.S., Vera and I were talking to each other,” she added. 



Although she has had a surreal week in the Ireland camp this window, it may just be the beginning in an Ireland shirt, as her solid performance will surely have increased her standing in Pauw’s World Cup squad selection later this year. 

Farrelly acknowledges the excitement of the prospect of a World Cup appearance but is also making sure she doesn’t let the idea distract from her immediate goal of playing on a regular basis. 

“I’m very hopeful and excited about it and at the same time I’m still taking it one day at a time. I have to be healthy, that’s the most important thing,” she said. 

“I would be so pumped to go to a World Cup but I’m just trying to continue enjoying myself and play week in week out.” 

Farrelly was born and raised in Pennsylvania and played for the U.S. at youth level but her father Sean’s side of the family hail from County Cavan which is clearly an important of the debutant’s identity as she recounted her relatives’ reaction to the call-up. 

“It’s so recent, they just found out too. They’ve been so supportive and excited.” 



“I haven’t spoken with them directly with them yet, but I’ve had such great support from them, and I’m really honoured to represent them too and our whole Farrelly clan,” she said. 

“I texted my dad and sent him a picture of me wearing the Irish jersey, it was a really special moment."

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