Denise O'Sullivan was delighted to put the pain of the Euro 2025 play-off loss to Wales behind her as a new era for the Republic of Ireland kicked off with a 1-0 Nations League win over Turkey in Carla Ward's first game in charge.
Kyra Carusa's first-half headed goal proved decisive at Tallaght Stadium, where O'Sullivan saw a shot of her own cleared off the line in the opening 45 minutes.
Turkey offered little in the way of attacking threat, but their rare sorties forward did produce a couple of heart-in-mouth moments for fans at a windy venue, where the playing surface was showing the effects of Shamrock Rovers' penalty shootout loss to Molde in the UEFA Conference League 24 hours earlier.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport after the final whistle, the player of the match said: "It's very exciting, we were obviously all devastated with the Wales loss, but Carla and the staff coming in, it's been enjoyable.
"We've only had a few days working with them, but to get the win tonight was very important.
"It was a tough game. It was scrappy, but the most important thing is that we got the three points."
Denise O'Sullivan is a deserved player of the match for her display in the Republic of Ireland's 1-0 win over Turkey in the Nations League. pic.twitter.com/vPX6i3gZeJ
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 21, 2025
O'Sullivan's energy levels never ebbed away despite the Cork's woman lack of recent club activity – the midfielder is still a number of weeks away from a new season with North Carolina Courage in the NWSL.
However, the 31-year-old admitted to no fears on the fitness front.
"If I'm in season or out of season, my job is to be fit and come into Ireland 100%, so 24 hours per day I take care of my body and that's why I show up like this," she said.
"I just keep working hard and I love it, it's very easy for me to do."
Ward's football philosophy, with a greater emphasis on expansive and fluid attack, requires a degree of technical nous that has understandably not yet become embedded in this new formation.
The adaption of a new approach is a key focus for O'Sullivan and her team-mates before next Tuesday's encounter with Slovenia.
"It's the first game under a new manager," O'Sullivan added.
"We've a long way to go and a lot to work on as a team, but we'll take a look at the video in the next few days and see what we can improve on."
