There was plenty of common sense to a 4-2-3-1 formation. Mainly, it took the heat off Katie McCabe, who was running on fumes after the Arsenal in Australia end of season tour, placing the emphasis on the Irish midfield duo of Megan Connolly and Lily Agg to keep a high line.If not for Troy Parrott’s injury-time finish to beat Hungary, we’d be singing another sad song about Irish football.
The FAI published a detailed player pathways plan last February. Great. On the ground, in the seemingly semi-professional League of Ireland, we are not seeing all this big talk turned into reality.For example, I would like to know where the €500,000 Government bonus, for reaching last year’s World Cup was spent. That is the exact amount needed to run a League of Ireland men’s academy. Half a million every year could fund a scholarship scheme created by the FAI, the Government and universities.
Ninety-nine per cent of the current Irish squad know that their education is more important than a short term contract with an English, Belgian or US club. There is no pot of gold after 10 years as a female professional footballer. In many ways, Abbie Larkin is following Katie McCabe’s career path. She will have to scrap and develop on the fly, like Katie did, to establish herself in the English game. She has the talent but in far too many ways we are not adequately helping our players. Change is promised but enacting it is happening at a glacial pace.
Former Ireland manager Colin Bell brought in the weekly sessions for home-based players. Most of us had full-time jobs so it was always a challenge to get across to Blanchardstown on a Thursday night. We all showed up, religiously. It was our only taste of professionalism. Vera Pauw carried on this important gathering, but it has disappeared under Eileen.