27-05-2025
Sojourn Down Under rekindled Erin Healy's love for the game
Republic of Ireland recruit Erin Healy says the fun she had during her time in the the A-League in Australia brought about a renewed love for the game.
Last week, the 24-year-old San Diego-born attacker was called up by Carla Ward ahead of the Nations League encounters against Turkey and Slovenia. Healy qualifies through her Clones-born grandfather Hugh McGuire, and revealed that it was a long-held ambition for her to wear the green of Ireland.
Speaking to the the press from the Irish squad's base in Turkey, she said: "With my grandfather coming to the USA from Ireland, the Irish heritage has always been part of who I am. When I was in college, my coach enquired as to whether any of us had dual citizenship.
"I asked my mom and she was already collecting documents. I got my citizenship (last September) and ever since then it has been my goal to play for this team.
"It was an unreal experience and it was something I'd been working hard for, really hard for and it is super exciting to be here. I've already been welcomed by the coaching staff. It's a great group of people and hopefully I'll get some playing time. The team are definitely climbing, are making big strides, and I'm delighted to be part of that .
"It's something that would have made my grandfather proud."
Healy's arrival in Ireland comes on the back of an impressive season with Adelaide United in the Ninja A-League, where she scored eight goals and was named the team's player of the year. There was also a stint in Portugal with Club de Albergaria.
The Irish boss sees Healy as a potential replacement for the injured Leanne Ward, speaking highly of the player at last week's squad announcement.
"She is Australia based but soon to be European based this summer and that will help for sure. She is someone we watched quite a lot," Ward said.
"If you have a look at her, she can score goals and link the play. Importantly, she has got a lot of pace and somebody we have been excited about."
In assessing her own worth on the pitch, Healy admitted that she's somewhat enigmatic, when saying: "I like to be involved in a lot of the play, I like to be creative but I'm hard to read in how I play. I like to give a defender a lot to defend against, so that's what you can expect of me."
The latest addition to the Irish squad has certainly gained much experience abroad and as to her future plans, she was somewhat non-committal.
"We are having a few conversations but I'm focusing on this camp first". Though when pushed, Healy did say that the WSL would be "the area I'd be most interested in".
Of course, there was a period when Healy was ready to walk away from the game after graduating from college with an accounting degree.
Recalling the that time, she said: "I took an internship during my college years and I enjoyed the corporate world. I was scared that if you don't get your foot in there at the beginning it might be harder down the road but I also knew I wasn't done with soccer and I had more to give."
Those stints in Portugal and Australia underlined that that she did indeed have more to give.
"I went to the Portuguese league to see if I wanted to continue with soccer. I realised it was part of who I am and I wanted to keep it going. The Portuguese league showed that I had more potential, that I could play in different environments, and perform in those environments.
"I wanted to give it one more try and see what comes of it. I found the fun again, I fell back in love with it.
"Going to Australia was a big leap but I'm comfortable away from home even though I knew I'd be home sick a little bit. I met amazing people and they became my family, a family away from family.
"I think I play my best when I'm having fun. In Australia I had fun every second."
