LAST UPDATE | 6 Sep 2022
FROM BEAUTIFUL Bratislava to scenic Senec.
It’s a very picturesque part of the world.
But just another stop along the way for the Republic of Ireland women’s national team.
Vera Pauw’s side are on a journey, the 2023 World Cup the ultimate destination.
They secured an historic play-off position with a nervy 1-0 win over Finland in Tallaght Stadium on Thursday, and another victory against Slovakia this evening could shorten the road [KO 5pm Irish time, live on RTÉ 2].
Ever so slightly anyway, as they look to round of their Group A run on a high.
After a string over other results went their way, three points in Senec would send the Girls In Green directly into the second round of the convoluted play-off system.
They’ll stay firmly grounded, not thinking too far ahead just yet, but they can dare to dream a little more after last week’s monumental achievement.
Step by step, stop by stop.
*****
Yesterday’s commute began at Dublin Airport, which you’ll be glad to hear, was a breeze.
Minus the bleary eyes getting on the red-eye flight to Vienna.
Not a whole pile more of the Austrian capital was taken in than the arrivals hall, as a gang of journalists and reporters piled into a minibus to Bratislava.
It was to be the theme of the day, both the Slovakian and Irish press conferences hit.
A wild goose chase at times — perhaps fitting it’s the scene of the crime of the FAI Disco Train of 2010 — but certainly worthwhile in the end.
The pressers were in completely opposite directions from Bratislava, so there was limited time to explore the Slovakian capital before getting to work. From was seen at the time of writing, it’s a really lovely city. Built on the River Danube, there’s the castle, the old town, the winding cobble streets lined with quaint cafés, bars and restaurants. A real feel of Eastern Europe, compact and quiet but strikingly different in every corner.
The sun beats down, the heat still searing as summer turns to autumn.
The Slovakian presser was at X-Bionic Sphere, Samorin, an impressive sport and leisure resort and home to Peter Kopúň’s side for this camp. It was an interesting interview, the manager speaking through an interpreter but chit-chatting in decent English when the tapes stopped recording afterwards.
He praised Ireland, but not too much, bullish as he targets a win over Group A’s “dark horse”. This evening’s game could be Kopúň’s last as manager as his contract comes to an end, but he seemed hopeful for more as he reflected on the development of this team.
There’s a noticeable lack of support, though. In Bratislava, or indeed Senec, you wouldn’t know there’s a World Cup qualifier on. Asked how much of a crowd there’ll be tomorrow, the manager sighed:
“I would say in Slovakia the numbers are more or less the same for every match, we at least expect them to come in more or less the same numbers that they would normally come.”
563 fans attended their home game against Sweden earlier in the campaign, not a patch on the crowds at Tallaght Stadium of late. Tickets are understood to be €1.
“The performance in Slovakia is making progress, the level of our play.” Kopún added.
“And then the interest of the fans, which maybe is not so great, but we’re working on it as well. We get help from Uefa with some projects that they have to increase its popularity, we have seen a recent finals tournament in women’s football [Euro 2022] with big crowds coming, people can see that as well here, so that might give them an idea we can do that here. And hopefully the projects that have been initiated in Slovakia will also help, or contribute to that goal.”
The Ireland presser was at the picturesque NTC Senec stadium, set by a lake 25km or so away. A holiday resort with no shortage of water sports on offer, the 3,200-seater stadium is by far the centrum of the area, but was brought to life by the Irish set-up.
Pauw and stalwart defender Louise Quinn were on media duty; the empty seat situation at Tallaght Stadium the other night still gnawing at the manager, but the rest of it overwhelmingly positive.
Growth, growth, growth.
Solutions will be found for the absences of three starters against Finland — Megan Connolly, Ruesha Littlejohn (both injury) and Jamie Finn (suspension) — Pauw assured, with Niamh Fahey also ruled out. Expect a fairly similar XI, though: goal-scoring super-sub Lily Agg will slot in for Littlejohn; Megan Campbell may shift to the left of the back three, Connolly having done so in place of Fahey; and Chloe Mustaki could line out at left-wing-back. That may be the easiest fix, but other chances could be given.
𝙁𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙎𝙬𝙚𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙎𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙖...
— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) September 4, 2022
WNT 🇮🇪 SuperFan Annie Mulholland, who was in Gothenburg earlier this year, greeted the squad upon arrival in Bratislava 👍#SVKIRL | #COYGIG | #WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/ht2zLvmrOU
There was a giddiness before the players began training, an excitement in the air but an overriding sense that there’s another job to be done.
A sizeable media contingent has travelled to watch them do it, a real sign of the upward trajectory this team is on, the ever-increasing interest and the games’ development.
WNT super fan Annie Mulholland is here with her family, the team’s lucky mascot from Gothenburg, and more and more travelling supporters should make themselves known over the next few hours.
There’s talk that a sizeable contingent from the local GAA club, Slovak Shamrocks, will head to the game too, with another big evening in store.
Another stop along the way as the journey continues.
Step by step, stop by stop.
Id imagine the referee is more disappointed with that Cork win than Kilkenny themselves. A shambles of a refereeing display. Kilkenny cynical all night. Good win for the Rebels.
@IrishOwl: Kilkenny cynical? Go way outta that. If Cork never win an All-Ireland again it’ll be too soon.
@LaoisWeather: lol… Good man. Well.. it’ll be a Cold day in Laois before they make any impact.. in any sport. More lemons ?
@LaoisWeather: kilkenny were absolutely cynical tonight. Ball dropping and a sneaky pull of the helmet or coming out with the ball and swinging the Hurley. Walter Walsh nearly bust Tim o mahonys back when he he threw a shoulder full force into his spine. Kilkenny have always been like that.
@James horgan: Kilkenny hurled, as they always have. Typical Cork, not happy with a flukey win.
@LaoisWeather: killkenny hurled and lost again to cork. Cork not been put off by the sly digs as much anymore. Question is do killkenny have anything else to offer?
@michael o farrell: Cork won’t get out of Munster
@LaoisWeather: Wake up, Kilkenny, while obviously have been a fantastic hurling team over the years, have also been one of the most cynical and dirty teams ever, but they are so cute and sly at doing it.
@James horgan: and Cork got a free and Walsh got yellow carded. What more could the ref have done in that situation
@Patrick O Connell: correct action was taken by the ref but the situation shouldn’t have happened. Could have seriously injured o mahony but Walsh didn’t care less and full pelt into the back. Just the kinda stuff kilkenny have been doing for years but you can’t call them out cause their supporter’s get offended. Even though it’s clear to everyone what they’ve been upto for years
@LaoisWeather: kilkenny wrestled and cork hurled. That’s why cork won out in the end. It was a hurling match not wreslemania
@LaoisWeather: what a bitter böllix you are mate.
The ref should never officiate again, trying to make a name for himself, at least 2 reds in game, lost the game in 2nd half
I don’t know if it’s wrestling the boys from Kilkenny think they’re playing or what. The amount of dragging and pulling off the ball that all of us in the crowd could see and the ref ignored was ridiculous.
Cork were sloppy enough with their passing game and had some bad wides . Hard to know where they are at . Kilkenny should have put them away but they hurled well the last 15 mins and got over the line
All Ireland favourites now,
@Chris Tobin: Limerick, Galway, Waterford and then Cork per the bookies with Limerick odds on.
@T Dawg: Galway will do well to make it to the semis. Nobody will lay a glove in Limerick again this year
@T Dawg: cork 5th favourite.
I’ll take that all day
@T Dawg: Yawn
Lads, Cork stop moaning and get on with. Soft as f. All the talent in the world (which ye have btw) won’t win anything relying on refs and a soft culture created by Dog etc. Brian Cody has not blown a whistle in Nowlan Park for 23 year! Its a war ffs
@Gary Quirke: will ya stop for crying out loud. What game do you want to see? Is it hurling or a mish mash of wrestling, rugby and hurling? Cody not blowing a whistle in 23 years doesn’t prove anything other than ye haven’t got the talent and so want to win dirty. That’s not something to be proud of. Hurling is supposed to be a fast and skillful game, not the awful yoke of a spectacle ye want it to be. I lost count of the amount of times a Kilkenny man used his hurley to tackle a player around the neck last night. Thats not hurling and all the ‘man’s game’ propaganda yer past players spout will never make it so.
@Gary Quirke: who won the match?
poor little Cork, depending on refs as usual
@Kevin Shortall: ah cmon now, take the loss like a man
Lads, see this moaning and complaining that Cork do? Its’ now ingrained in yere behaviour, culture and youth. Get on with, ye have the hurlers but do ye have it in the belly? Send up yere youth to St. Kierans College and ye might win a senior this decade
@Gary Quirke: We’re coming in this year off the back of winning the last 2 U20 All Irelands and last years Minor All Ireland and you want us to send up our young lads to St. Kierans, any more jokes like that
@Gary Quirke: sir did ASR beat Kierans lately
@Gary Quirke: so rattled from losing to cork again. Just take the loss on the chin like a man.
Where will the final take place?
@David O’Brien: Thurlas, next Sunday as far as I know. Expect waterford to beat wexford so an all munster final
@David O’Brien: league final always Thurles . So next Sunday in Thurles
@Eileen Hennessy: I recall Limerick winning the league in Croke Park recently?