Carla Ward says she underestimated how deep the scars are in her Republic of Ireland squad after December's Euro 2025 play-off final defeat to Wales.
The hangover was evident in February's Nations League window when the Girls in Green scraped past Turkey 1-0 before crashing to a disastrous 4-0 loss in Slovenia.
Niamh Fahey, Diane Caldwell and Julie-Ann Russell all retired over the winter, while Louise Quinn is a long-term absentee with a hip issue. It has left a leadership void in the dressing room, according to the head coach, with Ireland searching for solutions ahead of the upcoming double-header against Greece.
"It's a funny thing to say but I think it was a blessing in disguise," Ward said of the Slovenia hammering after unveiling her squad on Tuesday morning.
"We found out a lot about where we’re at, the reality of the position we’re in, probably what I can and can’t do with the team. I take that on myself. I’ve tried new things, but I wanted to try new things. I wanted to find out a few things and I think I did, I got answers.
"I probably didn’t realise how much hurt there was from previous camps and the Wales camp. There was probably an element where we lost three leaders, four including Quinny. And if you take four leaders like that from any team in the world, it hurts you. I would say it was a really powerful game in terms of learning what we will face now."
Republic of Ireland manager Carla Ward insisted lessons have been learned from the 4-0 defeat in Slovenia as she announced her squad for the Nations League double-header against Greece next month #UWNL pic.twitter.com/b4UqqZT9O2
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) March 25, 2025
In terms of the squad, there's been no major shake-up. Only Izzy Atkinson and Melisa Filis have dropped out, with Saoirse Noonan finally rewarded for her excellent campaign at Celtic. Chloe Mustaki also returns to the fray and Shelbourne midfielder Aoibheann Clancy is back for the first time since she earned her sole cap against Morocco in November 2022.
"I had a conversation with Saoirse actually," added Ward. "That first squad, very short period of time, you select certainly what you know. I think in the period between the last camp and this camp, I've watched more fringe players and more players that I don't know anything about. I know a little bit about Saoirse, but I like what I see. She knows where the back of the net is.
"We had 27 shots on goal against Slovenia, I think that's probably where you wish you had a Saoirse Noonan in and around the box. What I will say is the conversations I've had with her, what an unbelievable human being. She wants to learn, wants to be better, so passionate about the opportunity to represent her country again. I can't wait to work with her."
Ward had plenty of praise for Clancy too, comparing the 21-year-old Limerick native to Arsenal's Australia international Kyra Cooney-Cross.
"I really like her," said Ward. "I watched her at the President's Cup - some of the stuff she did with the ball. She reminded me a little bit of a Kyra Cooney-Cross at Arsenal in the way that she glides around the pitch. I think she wears the same boots as her as well, by the way! I really liked her.
"I said to Alan (Mahon), I won't tell you which players, there were three that stood out. She was one of them. I was going to the game the following week and I said I won't tell you which players. He called me at half-time, he said, 'Aoibheann Clancy's a player'.
"She's been brilliant. I went down to Shelbourne training last night to tell her and safe to say she was very surprised. She's got something, she really has. She's a talented young player."
In other news Ward confirmed that Marissa Sheva has found a new club, with an announcement to come later today. She'd been unattached since leaving Portland Thorns before Christmas.
Ward also touched on the June friendlies against the world No 1-ranked USA, managed by her close friend Emma Hayes. Ward was part of the Americans' backroom staff at last summer's Paris Games.
"(They will be) really important," she said. "They're the best in the world. I've had the pleasure of working with them and they're unbelievable at everything they do. I think we can really go there and express ourselves, find out a little bit more about ourselves against the very, very best.
"I actually said in my interview (for the Ireland job), we should play against the US. The conversations were already started, so I can't claim that one sadly! I think the conversations started back in November, December."
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic), Grace Moloney (Unattached)
Defenders: Heather Payne (Everton), Jessie Stapleton (Sunderland – on loan from West Ham United), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Aoife Mannion (Manchester United), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), Megan Campbell (London City Lionesses), Chloe Mustaki (Bristol City), Katie McCabe (Arsenal)
Midfielders: Denise O'Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Ruesha Littlejohn (Shamrock Rovers), Marissa Sheva (Unattached), Aoibheann Clancy (Shelbourne)
Forwards: Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Saoirse Noonan (Celtic), Emily Murphy (Newcastle United)
UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE
League B, Group 2
Friday, 4 April: Greece v Republic of Ireland, Theodoros Vardinogiannis Stadium, Heraklion, 5pm (Live on RTÉ2 / RTÉ Player)
Tuesday, 8 April: Republic of Ireland v Greece, Tallaght Stadium, 7.30pm, (Live on RTÉ2 / RTÉ Player)
Listen to the RTÉ Soccer podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
