O’Gorman grasps chance to return to Ireland squad
By Stephen Leonard
AINE O’Gorman has said the opportunity to play again for the Republic of Ireland was one she just could not turn down.
The Peamount United captain came out of international retirement to link up with the Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team provisional squad ahead of the two major UEFA Women’s European 2021 qualifiers next month.
Peamount United captain Aine O’Gorman has come out of international retirement to join up with the Republic of Ireland squad
O’Gorman who led the Newcastle club to the National League title and the final of the FAI Cup last season has been named among the defenders in this extended panel by Ireland manager Vera Pauw as they gear up for a crucial home game against Greece in Tallaght Stadium on Thursday, March 5 follow-ed by a trip to Montenegro for a game six days later.
“It’s something I’d been thinking about for a while now and when the opportunity arrived I just felt I had to take it” O’Gorman told The Echo.
“I was talking with Vera [Pauw] and, with the few injuries they have, there was an opportunity for me to come back and I think that if I didn’t do it, it would be something I would have regretted.”
With some 100 caps to her name, O’Gorman will provide Pauw and her squad will invaluable experience, and the Peamount skipper could well be back playing in front of a home crowd in Tallaght against a Greece side that denied Ireland full points with an injury-time equaliser in their previous encounter back in November.
“These are huge games and we’ll want to get those six points” insisted O’Gorman.
“I think the nature of the last game against Greece, conceding in the last few minutes was a real sucker punch, but that’s something that can motivate you more to win the next time.
“Playing at home [in Tallaght] will be huge and hopefully we can get another record crowd there to support us for that game” she added.
O’Gorman has seen a number of her Peamount team mates also named in the Ireland squad, including defender Claire Walsh, midfielder Niamh Farrelly and goalkeeper Niamh Reid Burke.
The team, which is set to be captained by Tallaght’s Katie McCabe, will also feature her Arsenal team mate and former Peamount captain Louise Quinn along with ex-Peamount striker Amber Barrett.
Trailing Group I leaders Germany, Pauw’s team are unbeaten after three games and will be keen to pick up more points as the race for qualification for next year’s Finals tournament in England heats up.
TAGS sports
