IRELAND CAPTAIN KATIE McCabe has called on the FAI to review their processes in the wake of Colin Healy’s acrimonious exit.
McCabe confirmed she did not take part in the review in which the FAI board decided not to offer manager Eileen Gleeson and assistant coach Healy new contracts following Ireland’s failure to qualify for Euro 2025.
Healy later went public with a blistering statement, slamming the FAI over what he believes is a lack of “transparency and compassion”, and claiming chief football officer Marc Canham broke a verbal agreement in relieving him of his duties.
In response, Canham insisted that Healy wasn’t given “any absolute guarantees or assurances” that his contract would be renewed.
Speaking on Thursday for the first time since Healy’s departure, McCabe made clear her disappointment at how he was treated, and reiterated the “hurt” felt by Ireland’s players.
“Colin is such a genuinely honest, passionate guy who loved representing his country from a coaching point of view,” said McCabe. “We learnt so much from him over the 18 months, as well as Eileen.
“Do I agree with how the process went? No. But for us now as players we need to move on from it, we need to move forward, and I think within the Association, they need to review those processes and how they can do it better, because ultimately it wasn’t good enough.
“For Colin to be so outspoken, it’s out of his character, because he is such a quiet man who we all respected so much. So it hurt a lot of the players, seeing that sort of treatment and what was said in the statement. Having spoken to him as well, personally, yeah, I was disappointed. But for us now, we can’t dwell on it too much. We need to move forward, we need to respect the new management that’s in place and work forward now.”
Asked directly if she was involved in the FAI review after the Euro 2025 campaign ended, McCabe said:
“No. I wasn’t due to the fact I was in Norway [for a Champions League game with Arsenal] at the time and didn’t get to speak to them in time.”
McCabe confirmed she was asked for her view but “didn’t get to make that call in time” due to her club playing schedule.
“I’ve had internal conversations with the FAI off the back of that. And they understand my feelings towards the whole process and the review,” the skipper added.
Meanwhile, McCabe — who is in line to captain Ireland for the 65th time on her 94th cap against Türkiye tonight — opened up on the heartbreaking play-off defeat to Wales.
Having told The 42 it was “devastating” and “one of the worst feelings I have had in my life,” the Dubliner reflected on her own game following December’s second leg loss at the Aviva Stadium.
McCabe was booked early on, and was lucky not to have been sent off by half time. She insists the early yellow card did not affect her performance.
“No. Like any player, if you take an early booking, you’re on a fine line. It’s just making sure you can’t put a foot wrong.
“It never came into my head. As you know, I’m a player who plays 100%. I wear my heart on my sleeve whenever I’m representing Ireland, or Arsenal. I’m a physical player who doesn’t shy away from a challenge. Some officials don’t like, it, some don’t mind it. I’ve to respect that.”
- Uefa Women’s Nations League, League B: Ireland v Türkiye, Tallaght Stadium, 7.30pm — live on RTÉ Two.
Great result – horrible game
Agreed; all that spitting and shouting at the ref, never mind the tribalistic thuggery it engenders internationally.
A lot to be said for oval shaped balls.
And as is evident here you will often find a cock on the end of them
This is qualified success in a worldwide sport, not reaching the quarter finals of a sport played by 10 teams… Genuine achievement by an extremely mediocre side. Possibly the worst Irish side in my life, but much more commendable than coming out of a group they were expected to come out of(like the oval-balled lads) and then losing to a side they should beat. These boys have a massive task in front of them now. If they can pick up some points it’ll be a result. And if they do a Greece, yourself and the D4 crowd will probably be first on the bandwagon. I’ve been on it years though and there’s plenty of room whenever you’re ready.
99.999% Qualified which is a great achievement for the material that Trap has. Europe is more difficult to qualify for than the World cup well done to the team. It will give the country something to look forward to next summer the kind of buzz that an oval ball would never give to such a wide section of the population.
Worst Irish side in your life?! what age are you, 2? This is easily the best Irish side in 10 years, possibly on a par with the ’02 team. Its the tactics that make the team look bad.
Oh please,no more oval ball shennanigans,please.
Great achievement overall to qualify and well done to the lads but Ireland’s style looked like that of a second rate Jack Charlton’s tonight for much of the time, belting high balls at and into Walters, who did very well. If only we had a player who could put his foot on the ball in the centre of the park and spray the odd decent pass. The result is obviously the most important thing but we are just not an enjoyable team to watch at present and the players to me seem to be stifled, mainly by Trap’s tactics.
A win is a win no matter what you can watch any match and get a bad game but when it your team and you win it’s a great feeling and I hope it’s lift us all out of this recession come on Ireland
“international football has never been more open. As a result ……teams like Greece actually winning etc. “. That’s incredible , Greece were the most defensive team ever to win a championship. Their games were like watching chess in slow motion. Some sports reporters give you the impression they have never done more than read each others articles.
I think it’s fairly obvious he means ‘open’ in the sense of ‘there for the taking’, as opposed to an open style of play.
Tens of thousands of paddies boarding flights to Poland next Summer- whoda thunk it?
I could almost hear Michael O’Leary hiking up prices at the end of the game.
Did anyone else notice the flag the Estonian supporters were flying last night? It was the Union Jack, with the Three Lions crest of England, but in the Estonian colours. What was that all about?
Did wonder about the union Jack alright. Weird!
great article,spot on!
No no Alan,that s only when all the normal priced flights to Poland are sold that Michael will raise the prices,do u know so all the rest of us can have the chance to buy tickets at €400 odd euro