Watching this generous, inspirational Ireland team through the eyes of my children

Patrick McCarry

“I want to be a footballer.”

Bang. Simple as that. Our house’s big GAA star is now eyeing up the local soccer team. That is the power of this Ireland team, and the inspiration they are providing to so many young supporters.

It had just ticked past 10 o’clock, long after the final whistle had blown, and a host of Irish players were still doing the rounds, signing autographs, jerseys and getting in for selfies. My eldest daughter and her cousin had spent much of the second half roaring Courtney Brosnan’s approval, after a string of saves, and could not believe the goalkeeper was making her way down the line to them. My son was glaring past the sideline, wishing he could vault out there and kick a ball about.

This had been the third time I had brought my two eldest to see Vera Pauw’s Ireland side play at Tallaght Stadium. Now that they are that bit older, eight and nine, this was the first night the magic really took hold. In the past, getting candy floss or hot dogs was the big win. Now, they just wanted to sit back and take in the action.

This was the penultimate game before Pauw decides on her 23-player World Cup squad. There would have been women out on that pitch knowing they were playing for a spot on the plane to Australia. That tension was evident in the opening 20, 25 minutes but they eventually clicked into gear.

Amber Barrett, the Donegal forward that fired Ireland to the World Cup, was the second half hero as she scored a penalty and a smart lob to put Ireland in the box-seat. Claire O’Riordan scored, too, and it was looking cosy until a late lapse made it 3-2 and gave a decent Zambia side hope. It was in the final stages that Brosnan showed why she was a worthy, recent recipient of Senior Women’s Player of the Year at the FAI International Awards.

Ireland held on for a 3-2 win and will next face France before the squad is picked and travels Down Under for their first World Cup adventure. The game itself was something but what transpired for 45 minutes after that final whistle is what I took home with me. So did the kids.

The Republic of Ireland team, back row, from left, Saoirse Noonan, Megan Connolly, Courtney Brosnan, Ruesha Littlejohn, Niamh Fahey and Izzy Atkinson, front row, from left, Abbie Larkin, Claire O’Riordan, Louise Quinn, Heather Payne and Leanne Kiernan before the women’s international friendly against Zambia, at Tallaght Stadium. (Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile)

Giving back to the young Ireland fans

We had previously seen this Ireland team play, at Tallaght Stadium, against Ukraine and Sweden but, as the children were that bit younger and would often be zonked by full-time, had quickly headed for the exits.

On Thursday night, then, I was a bit surprised to see hordes of young fans swarm forward to the wall behind the advertising boards. From around the 85th minute on, with the friendly encounter still in the balance, hundreds upon hundreds of young supporters headed down, as close as they could get, with flags, match programmes, jerseys, home-made signs and either pens or markers in hand.

It took me a few beats to realise this was the cue for the post-match autographs and selfies that this Ireland team has become renowned for. Sure enough, after that final whistle blew and Vera Pauw got her side in for a huddle, players headed off in three directions to do their post-match duties.

You wished some of those involved in the men’s team could see what this sort of personal connection is like and what it means to these young fans. There are logistical and security reasons behind why they cannot do such laps after games at Aviva Stadium, I’m sure, but nothing would make you prouder to wear that jersey than to see how these young faces light up just to be in their presence.

Pretty much every player that was involved did their part and there would be a huge buzz every time one of them got near our enclave of excited youngsters. Courtney Brosnan, in particular, left an impression as she tried her best to meet all the picture and signing demands. “Thank you,” you heard her say to each person she interacted with. “Thank you for coming.”

Abbie Larkin, Vera Pauw and Louise Quinn meet their adoring public. (Photos by Sportsfile)

Last one of the night with Abbie Larkin

My eldest to, and my niece, were still learning the ways of this autographs and selfie game. First up, we had made the rookie mistake if bringing nothing to sign, and no pen/marker to sign it with.

Then there was the difficulty of trying to get in for a picture as the players were going by. Their first few picture attempts, as Brosnan and Ciara Grant did the rounds, were either blurry or of a leg or arm. There is not much room to manoeuvre in those pitch-side throngs.

They soon picked up, helped by seeing what the players were doing, that you could hand your phone over and the player would get you in, with them, for a selfie.

It had now ticked past 10pm and RTÉ had finished their live broadcast and had switched off the studio lights. Players such as Amber Barrett, Chloe Mustaki and Louise Quinn had been by, as had Vera Pauw, and the mini kick-about featuring Katie McCabe, Denise O’Sullivan & Co. had finished up. The security staff were politely suggesting it would be time to head for home.

I was starting to worry about getting scolded for bringing these children home too late on a school night when, just by pure luck, over ran Abbie Larkin. The 18-year-old plays with Shamrock Rovers and knows this stadium well. She was over to meet some friends and family, but duly obliged with some snaps and signatures for the mad ones that had lingered around. After spending five minutes over on our side, she was about to head for the changing rooms before the two girls caught her attention.

They knew the game now and handed Abbie my phone so she could do the honours. And there it was – a selfie with her two new biggest fans.

All three children were buzzing, on the walk back to my parents’ house nearby and on the car journey home.

When we got home, Patrick started kicking a balloon around the kitchen and had some new names to go along with his current favourites – Mbappé, Ronaldo and Messi – while Caitlin was mad to go training with the local soccer team.

Watching these games through the eyes of these kids is a special thing. Even before a ball is kicked at this World Cup, this Ireland team can be so proud of what they have done, and what they are doing.