By:
Conor Martin
Celtic’s and the Republic of Ireland’s Saoirse Noonan is coming to terms with achieving a unique feat in Ireland’s 1-0 win over Slovenia on Tuesday night.
Noonan became the first person to play both football and Gaelic football at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. The Cork native played the first-ever game at the redeveloped Rebel HQ against Westmeath back in 2020.
She’ll now have even fonder memories of the ground thanks to her winner against Slovenia in Ireland’s win in the final UEFA Women’s Nations League.
Ireland went into the game needing to climb a sizeable mountain in order to win automatic promotion. They needed to win by four goals and beat their opponents in what would have been a reverse of the two countries’ reverse fixture in February, where Ireland were well beaten.
Despite throwing everything at the group leaders after Noonan’s 19th-minute strike, Carla Ward’s side were unable to increase their lead.
Instead, the Girls in Green will now play in a two-legged play-off against the third-placed team from League A in October.
They could play one either Austria, Iceland, Belgium or Denmark in that crunch tie. There will be a lot on the line regardless. Not only is promotion on the line, but should they win, Ireland would also gain a guaranteed play-off spot for the 2027 World Cup.
Saoirse Noonan says achieving feat was ’emotional’
When I got the nod, I just told my parents and kept it a bit quiet and just tried to treat it like another game.
“The goal, when it went in and hit off my head, I could just see it dipping. I don’t even know how I celebrated or anything.
“I just had a little moment, took a deep breath and was back into focus. We wanted to get that next goal quick.
“My Grandad would have been a proud man tonight, he would have been at every game with my granny, and this was the first time she’s seen me play senior.
“It was emotional and it meant a lot to me.
“Being in Cork is enough motivation in itself. Wearing the Irish jersey is enough motivation.
“You don’t need anything else really. It does add that little bit of grit.
“Since the new stadium’s been built, I played here with the Cork ladies footballers at senior level.
“To come back wearing a different shirt, it’s the same feeling, you’re representing something you’re really proud of.
“It’s phenomenal.”
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