A behind-closed-doors friendly with Hungary on Saturday won't be the most significant outing for the Girls in Green this year, but try telling that to Tara O’Hanlon.
The Manchester City defender – currently on loan at Wome's Super League 2 side Sunderland - hasn’t featured for her country since April 2023 owing to a dreadful run of injuries.
Carla Ward’s side, having secured promotion to League A in the UEFA Nations League and learned of their opponents for the 2027 World Cup qualifiers, are in a week-long training camp in Marbella that concludes with the game against Hungary.
O’Hanlon was speaking to the media after receiving her first call-up in over two and a half years and it has been quite the journey to get back into the Irish fold.
Trouble began in August 2023 – four months after her second international appearance - with a bad hamstring tear. Despite suffering a setback in recovery, she signed for Manchester City from Peamount United the following January.
With injury progress stalling, she was sent to a specialist before tearing it again. An operation followed, but as she closed out the year, her left hamstring went again.
After more diligent rehab, O’Hanlon was back in training the following month when she suffered another hammer blow. In blocking a shot, her knee bent inwards and the 20-year-old tore her ACL.
It seemed for a period there was no end to the luckless run, compounded by a calf tear on the eve of the new campaign. Thankfully, that proved to be a minor setback, but she admits it has been a hugely challenging time in her career.
"It got to a point where I was rehabbing, I almost feared getting back on the pitch and making a return because I felt something was going to wrong again," she tells RTÉ Sport. "That was quite scary.
"That took a lot out of me. There were loads of days where I woke up in the morning and I didn’t want to go in for my rehab. Those were difficult days mentally
"It got to the point where it was either I give up, or I keep going. I was never going to give up. I had to take it one day at a time and I eventually got to where I am now."
O’Hanlon credits her team-mates and physios in helping her through the darkest of times in the treatment room.
"They were very understanding of my situation and how scared I was essentially about something going wrong.
"I could be stuck in my own head and thinking the worst that something would go wrong or shake myself out of it and take the moments as they come.
"Things have gone OK so far."
Saturday’s game will largely go under the radar – it’s not televised or open to the public – but O’Hanlon is itching for action.
Sunderland has afforded her a chance to find her feet after doubting her future in the game and Saturday could mark the next chapter in her story.
"It means everything to me to play for my country. This is something I have waited a long time for."
