27-05-2025
I'm from California, played in Portugal & Australia – now I'm aiming to make my Ireland debut vs Turkey
ERIN HEALY turned her back on an accounting job to play football professionally.
And now the attacker is hoping her figures can stack up for country as well as club.
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The California-native lining out for Adelaide United in the A-League semi-final
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She lined out at collegiate level for Gonzaga Bulldogs
Credit: Getty
California native Healy, 24, is in her first Ireland squad, qualifying through her late grandfather Hugh McGuire who was originally from Clones.
It is a reward for her form with Adelaide United, where she scored eight goals in 17 starts, which is also expected to result in a move to England before next season.
And it also helps to reassure her that she made the right decision two years ago when she graduated from Gonzaga University.
It was a crossroads in her life and she decided to sign for Portuguese outfit Clube de Albergaria.
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Healy — who obtained her passport last September — said: 'I took an internship in my college year and I really enjoyed the corporate world.
'And I was kind of scared that if I didn't get my foot in the door there at the very beginning, it might be hard later down the road.
'I also knew that I wasn't done with soccer. I had more to give.
'So I gave it one more try to see what came of it and I fell in love with it again, I found the fun in it. And I think I'm at my best when I'm having fun.
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'The Portuguese league showed I had more potential, so I wanted to go to another team and another league to see how well I did there to see whether I continue soccer or finish it.
'I'm happy to be still here and still playing and now I want to make a career out of it.
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'I'd say in Australia for the season I had fun every second. So I'm going to keep going.
'It was a bit of a leap, I would say, but I'm also comfortable away from home.
'Obviously I knew I would be homesick a little bit but it was a comfortable move. I met some amazing people and they became my family.'
Although she said her club future was not settled, she acknowledged that a move to England would make an international career with Ireland more manageable.
Healy explained: 'That would be the area I would be more interested in and it would make it easier in terms of the Irish team but I'm not sure yet.
'We are having a few conversations but focusing on the camp first.'
'IRISH HERITAGE'
Healy would like the chance to shine in these Nations League games against Turkey and Slovenia but knows she might have to bide her time.
Even to be in the squad was a proud moment, particularly for her mum Maureen — although she also has Irish ancestry further back on her dad's side.
She said: 'Irish heritage has always been part of who I am and who my family is.
'When I was in college, my coach asked a lot of our players if any of us had dual citizenship and, so, I asked my mom to see what that looked like and she was always collecting documents to get ready for that.
'Then I got my citizenship and ever since then it's just been my goal to play for this team and be a part of it.
'To get the call-up was an unreal experience, something I'd been working super hard for, something I'm super grateful for and it's super exciting to be here.
'It was every emotion I think, excitement, surrealness.
'Now I can just kind of play through my grandfather and make him proud. He passed away around eight years ago.
'My mom wanted to try to get out for one of the games in this camp but it's not going to work out this time.
'I just want to get my foot in the door and get comfortable.
'I'm ready to put my best foot forward and hopefully get some playing time.
'I just like to be involved in a lot of the play and I like to be creative.
'I think I'm hard to read so I give a defender a lot to defend against. That's what you guys can expect from me.'
