Louise Quinn believes defensive solidity is key to the Republic of Ireland successfully adopting a more expansive approach as the Girls in Green eye promotion to the top tier of the UEFA Nations League.
Ireland can win League B Group 1 with two games to spare if they defeat Albania on Tuesday night having swept past the minnows in Tallaght on Friday.
They've scored 12 goals and conceded just once in their three games in the competition, exhibiting an increased willingness to commit bodies forward under interim boss Eileen Gleeson.
However veteran centre-half Quinn has warned there’s still room for improvement as they look to strike the right balance.
Megi Doci drew Albania level before Katie McCabe grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and led her team to a comfortable victory, with the visitors’ goal still irritating Quinn long after the points were safely secured.
"Usually I keep a cool head but I definitely had to switch it on in that dressing room," she said when reflecting on what was said among the Irish players at half-time.
"To me it just felt like, the basics, the energy… sometimes you don’t know why that is but it was very clear to see what we needed to fix and that was coming down to bringing our own energy, making sure we were in the correct defensive shape at times.
"We want to attack all the time but if you’ve got a nice defensive shape – even from the front in how you press from their goal kicks – that’s how you’re going to create chances.
"Even if we’re up attacking in their box, if we’ve got a really good defensive structure behind that, that’s where you gain that control. That’s where we did switch off. We let them out of areas.
"As soon as we lost the ball we didn’t close them down quick enough, we didn’t do what we’re really good at. But we did in the second half. It was important people were able to switch that mindset and lift it up two levels."
"She's joined that little elite group now and we're absolutely thrilled to have her."
Ireland were more assured on the turnaround as Quinn, Caitlin Hayes and Diane Caldwell snuffing out the increasingly rare Albania attacks.
It was a special evening for Caldwell who won her 100th cap.
Quinn has been alongside the Balbriggan woman for most of her international journey, and was happy to pay tribute to a fellow stalwart.
"I’ve known Di since I was about 14," she said. "She was captain of the Under-17s and was just a leader. I looked up to her in that moment. We were close in age and she was getting into the 19s, getting into the seniors at such a young age.
"She has proven what she’s about. She’s one of the most honest people in terms of being a supportive team-mate, she’s there for the team. She’s so selfless. If we’re dropping down, she brings us up, she’s there to put an arm around everyone.
"She's joined that little elite group [of centurions] now and we’re absolutely thrilled to have her."
