‘I'm here to play': Republic of Ireland defender Louise Quinn aims to go out on a high in Nations League ties
Senior international camps have been a home from home for Louise Quinn over the years. She has, after all, spent a fair chunk of her life on duty with the
Republic of Ireland
. There will be a sense of poignancy about this one, though. Barring her being involved in Ireland's summer friendlies away to the
United States
, this will be her last time in camp.
The 34-year-old announced her imminent retirement from football in late April. All the indications suggest that the upcoming Nations League double header will be a last hurrah for her. Ireland face
Turkey
away on Friday before a home match against Slovenia next Tuesday.
'It's lovely that they wanted to give me a send-off,' says the defender. But she's not here to make up the numbers and hopes to force her way into Carla Ward's team. Having missed much of the latter part of the season with Birmingham City due to a hip injury, she insists she's fighting fit and looking to add to her 121 caps in one or both of the games.
'I'm here to play, I'm here to fight for my position,' she added. 'It's not going to be given to me, I absolutely know that. Carla doesn't owe me anything, but I'm going to be training hard all week to try and get myself in the team. We'll just see how it goes.'
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In an ideal world, Quinn would have signed off after playing in Euro 2025 this July, but Wales put the kibosh on those hopes with their play-off win over two legs. Still, she agonised over the decision. Ultimately, the desire to spend more time with her family – notably her wife Eilish and son Daragh, who was born in March – swayed it.
So now that I have my own little family, I want to be able to be there and be a bit more present
—
Louise Quinn
'Daragh is, of course, a big part of it. I've missed so much with my own family and friends over the years, constantly missing events. I did go to my cousin's wedding in the summer, I flew in for less than 24 hours, went to the wedding, drove back home later that night and got a flight first thing at six in the morning. It's like, 'this isn't how I wanted to celebrate with my family all the time'.
'So now that I have my own little family, I want to be able to be there and be a bit more present. When he's so young, Daragh probably doesn't have a clue really, but I just think it's important that I'm around, flexible and there for Eilish. This is so brand new, so you want to have all hands on deck and look after him.
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'So, when I say I am in, I am in' - Carla Ward reaffirms Ireland commitment
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TV View: Katie McCabe wins one for Ireland, sort of, as Arsenal topple Barcelona
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'I was sobbing at the airport on Sunday, absolutely dreadful,' she says with a laugh. 'It doesn't take much for me to have a good cry now.'
She's already been introducing Daragh to football, with last Saturday's Champions League final between
Arsenal
and Barcelona a case in point. 'I'm there holding him and I said to Eilish, 'if Katie [McCabe] scores, I am going to freak out'. And she was like, 'give me our son, do NOT frighten the crap out of him'.'
Katie McCabe celebrates after Arsenal beat Barcelona in the Champions League final last Saturday. Photograph: Jose Breton/Inpho
McCabe didn't score, but Stina Blackstenius did and Arsenal were crowned champions of Europe. Quinn was ecstatic for her former club, but especially so for Ireland captain McCabe. 'She is so deserving, I'm just so proud of her. Where she's come from, playing in the National League all those years ago, seeing her now stepping up on to the biggest club stage you can get. She just did us all proud.
'And with that tricolour, she made everyone aware that she is Irish. She is so proud of that. There've been times when it was difficult for her, trying to take the next step up, but she has constantly fought through it with her grit, her talent, her personality. It's just totally deserving. She's shown what a little girl from Tallaght can do.'
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The 42
38 minutes ago
- The 42
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The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘I wasn't happy' – Jim McGuinness explains what prompted touchline row with Cavan boss Galligan after being ‘blanked'
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RTÉ News
3 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Kieran McGeeney rues missed goal chances but happy that Armagh topped group
Kieran McGeeney felt both his Armagh side and Dublin failed to hit the heights in their clash at Croke Park, while also lamenting the number of goal chances spurned by the All-Ireland SFC champions. A five-point win at GAA HQ ensured the Ulster county's progression through to the quarter-finals of this year's race for Sam Maguire, with the Dubs now needing to avoid defeat in their final-round encounter against Derry to ensure that they remain involved. It was a deserved win for Armagh, this despite the 17 wides that Dessie Farrell's side chalked up and their 4/3 breaches. For McGeeney, he felt his side could have made a greater indent on the scoreboard by way of raising green flags. Speaking to RTÉ Sport, he summed up the clash by saying: "Both teams weren't at their best." On the failure to put the ball past Stephen Cluxton, he said: "We missed a lot of goal chances in the first half and they missed a lot of chances overall. "There wouldn't have been much in it if they had their shooting boots on. We had four one-on-ones with Stephen and got nothing out of it and I think they got three points from our 12-point chances. Look, it was great to win the game and we top the group, so that's a big thing for us." That said, the Orchard County boss was less than impressed by what he witnessed. Armagh boss Kieran McGeeney sees plenty of room for improvement with his side's performance, despite their five point victory over Dublin at Croke Park, a win that sends them into the to All-Ireland quarter-finals. #RTEGAA #TheSundayGame — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 1, 2025 He added: "You can see the pace of Dublin when they go on the attack and they are frightening when they go through that middle part. We were happy with some parts but if we are to progress any further we will need a big improvement. "We did a lot of good stuff but at this level you have to take those chances. Cluxton is a top keeper but we made it easy for them and I'm sure Dessie is in there giving them loads for missing those point chances." His opposite number also lamented his side's accuracy in front of the posts, Farrell commenting: "It was disappointing in that I thought we prepared well but we were sloppy out there. Shooting efficiency cost us dearly and we had a couple of those technical breaches as well, which was very unlike us. "That cost us five points and you won't get way with that against a team like Armagh. At this stage we have to stay on script and keep driving on; it's about development, growth, taking the lessons, and continuing to build for ourselves. There are ups and downs along the way. Today wasn't a good day and we're into knockout football now." Dublin boss Dessie Farrell was left to rue wayward shooting and technical infringements as his side suffered a five point defeat to Armagh at Croke Park. #RTEGAA #TheSundayGame — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) June 1, 2025 What will frustrate Farrell even more was that his troops started brightly but could not regain the initiative when Armagh got on top after the 20-minute mark in the opening half. "The first quarter was really good and we looked very sharp and very clinical. We then lost our way and we'll try and unpack that from a mental perspective as well as everything else. "That second quarter before half-time was costly, we were constantly chasing and though at times were getting a foothold, getting at their kickout which was very difficult to do. "That was giving us a bit of momentum but we could not convert off that and had a lot of bad wides, coupled with poor decision-making. "Shot selection in the last quarter could have had us closer but ultimately it didn't happen for us because we didn't perform the way we would have wanted to."
