Latest news with #RTÉSport
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Katie McCabe sends warning to Ireland teammates despite win over Turkey
Katie McCabe believes Ireland need a "massive improvement" despite coming back to win against Turkey on Friday. The newly-crowned Champions League winner with Arsenal lamented the slow nature of Ireland's play, particularly in the first half. Speaking to RTÉ Sport, McCabe said: "We got the result and that's what matters in the end but from a performance point of view we have to be miles better going into Tuesday. "We didn't move the ball quick enough, we didn't move Turkey quick enough. We allowed them into the game with some sloppy mistakes. "It gave them that sniff to go forward. We need a massive improvement if we are going to beat Slovenia on Tuesday. "It's a tough ask. They have played brilliant for the whole Nations League campaign. I've got belief in us. We can score goals from different phases of play. "We can't rush it. We have to be patient. We need to be at our absolute best." A potential reason McCabe gave for Ireland's slow starts in games is the fact that the squad may be still getting used to new boss Carla Ward's tactics. She explained: "This is our fifth game under Carla, it's not going to be perfect. From a standards point of view, we have to implement that [gameplan] a little quicker and come out of the traps faster. "If we want to be pushing for [League] A in the Nations League, we can't be conceding goals like that, we gave them too much space. We need to take more care with the ball." Despite the celebrations she surely held after winning the Champions League with Arsenal, she was involved from the off, saying that she was fit to play for the duration of both games. ""I feel really good. It was a massive result for the club last week and we were ecstatic with becoming champions. I enjoyed the full celebrations, but it was full focus on these two games. "I said to Carla when I came in I was ready to play and give it all for the team." Ireland's next game is against Slovenia in Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 6pm next Tuesday.
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Elsa Desmond willing to sacrifice car to fuel 2026 Winter Olympic dream
In a world that can sometimes allow one to muddle along in a haze of ifs, buts and maybes, Elsa Desmond seems to pierce through that cloud in a refreshingly direct manner when it comes to why she is where she is and where she wants to get to. Three-and-a-half years ago, the Buckinghamshire-born 'Flying doctor' first entered public consciousness on these shores. She was about to embark on her first Winter Olympics representing Ireland in Beijing. And that's in a discipline that didn't have an existing federation in Ireland until she came along and made it happen. That sport was the luge. If you think bobsleigh or the skeleton, you're halfway there, only the luge is on a sled where the athlete lies on their back and negotiates the track at speeds of up to 140 kilometres per hour. So not for the faint-hearted and as Desmond tells RTÉ Sport, "an incredibly whole body sport" that requires intense S&C training from calves to neck as well as spatial awareness. Not that that has ever put Desmond off. She first fell in love with luge after seeing it on TV during the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin and quickly set about getting her first sled and embarking on the path towards becoming an Olympian, starting with a first experience where she tagged along with the British army as a civilian to take on a track in Innsbruck, Austria. Needless to say she was a natural in that sink or swim scenario. "It was all these adult men and me, this teenage girl, and I was faster than all of them. And I just fell in love with it from that first run." And thus the dream of going to an Olympics was fuelled. "My family knew from a very young age that I was going to get to the Olympics for luge. I don't think they believed it until I was on the plane to Beijing, but they always knew," Desmond says matter-of-factly as the Iceland-based luger returned to Ireland this week, as preparations for next February's 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina ramp up. The 27-year-old had initially begun on the British scene but as a dual citizen, explored the possibility of representing Ireland, who she qualifies for via Cavan and Cork roots on her father's side. A phone call from her mother to Peter Sherrard, Chief Executive of the Olympic Federation of Ireland got the snowball rolling but there was one major obstacle. There was no national luge federation in Ireland. So at the age of 19, Desmond set about founding one. "It was definitely a bigger challenge than I realised," she says of a process that involved setting up the Meath-based Irish Luge Federation as a company with a board and a CEO, and earning recognition from the International Olympic Committee, Irish Olympic Committee and the International Luge Federation. "In total it took us between 18 months and two years from when we started to when I was able to race, and it was down to the wire." Initially though, she thought she had very narrowly missed out on the 35th and final qualification spot for the 2022 Winter Games. But then whilst on a two-day bus journey with the rest of the Small Nations team, came a phonecall from Team Ireland's Chef de Mission for both Beijing 2022 and next year in Milan, Nancy Chillingworth. "I'd had this sort of 48 hours of being utterly miserable because we thought I wasn't in," Desmond recalls. "And then I was on the minibus on my way from Sigulda in Latvia to Oberhof in Germany and I remember sitting in the front seat and Nancy calling me. "She said, 'I'd normally ring your coach but since you don't have one, I'll tell you, you've qualified for the Olympics'. "And I think I may have made her say it three or four times because I just didn't believe her. I really didn't think that that was possible. "And then I remember her hanging up and I just cried for about ten minutes before I was even able to call my mom." So she had made history as the first Irish luger at an Olympics. But the 2022 Games were really treated as a learning experience where she finished 33rd in the women's singles. Next year has always been her real target and she is well on track to qualify, she tells RTÉ Sport. However, major sacrifices have to be made. In her debut Olympics, she was using a modified standard junior sled. It would be exaggerating to say it would be like trying to compete in Formula One whilst driving a Ford Cortina but you get the picture. 'I might have to sell my car in autumn to be able to afford this new equipment' But for the Milano Cortina Games she's haggling to upgrade to a senior standard racing sled via a German technician. It could end up costing as much as €20,000. So something's got to give. "I might have to sell my car in autumn to be able to afford this new equipment and if I have to do that, I have to do that, it'll be worth it," Desmond says. If that's not a sign of dedication, it would be hard to find a clearer example. Even though she has a busy life working as an emergency medicine doctor in northern Iceland, she reasons that sacrificing her main mode of non-sporting travel "won't be a huge problem" due to the availability of free bus transport and the fact that she will be away training for long periods. The decision to move to Iceland in the first place was a case of not sitting around and simply accepting the strain of employment within the UK's National Health Service (NHS) which she describes as "an incredibly tough environment to work in at the moment". "I was working 60 or 70 hours a week and my pay was quite minimal, so I decided to leave the UK and Iceland seemed like a really good option," Desmond says. "I now work about 36 hours a week for double the pay, which allows me a lot more time to focus on my training and also for my mental health as well, I'm not feeling like I'm burnt out, I'm able to put the effort that I want into the areas of my life that I want it. And it's also more sustainable for me financially." The extra mental space and spare time is filled with Icelandic language lessons, running the federation and coaching the next generation of Irish lugers including Lily Cooke. But the big focus is building towards the 2026 Winter Games on Italian soil, the same country that same host nation that offered her a first glimpse of the luge two decades earlier. "The real aim had always been Italy," Desmond says. "We're looking in a good place. So the last Olympics I was ranked 54th overall in the world in that season for the World Cup, and I'm now sitting in 28th in the world."
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
McCabe: Only 'massive' improvement will suffice against Slovenia
Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe says only a "massive improvement" next Tuesday against Slovenia will offer the Girls in Green any chance of promotion to League A of the Nations League. Carla Ward's side fell behind four minutes after the interval at Esenler Stadium in Istanbul, but Turkey's hopes of upsetting a side 35 places above them in the world rankings were scuppered by an own goal and Emily Murphy's last-minute winner. It was yet again another below-par display overall by Ward's charges, but the result at least keeps promotion hopes alive. Just about. Ireland must beat Slovenia - a side they lost 4-0 to earlier in the campaign - 5-0 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Tuesday to win the group and gain promotion to League A. Failure to achieve that result and they'll head for a promotion/relegation play-off against one the League A third-placed teams in the autumn. Reflecting on the scrappy win, McCabe says while the result was key, only an upturn in general play will suffice on Leeside. "We got the result and that's what matters in the end but from a performance point of view we have to be miles better going into Tuesday," she told RTÉ Sport. 🇹🇷 1-2 🇮🇪 Ireland captain Katie McCabe: "We got the result and that's what matters in the end but from a performance point of view we have to be miles better going into Tuesday" #UWNL — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 30, 2025 "We didn't move the ball quick enough, we didn't move Turkey quick enough. We allowed them into the game with some sloppy mistakes. "It gave them that sniff to go forward. We need a massive improvement if we are going to beat Slovenia on Tuesday. "It's a tough ask. They have played brilliant for the whole Nations League campaign. I've got belief in us We can score goals from different phases of play. "We can't rush it. We have to be patient. We need to be at our absolute best." The skipper cited a change in tactics under Ward, as players get used to her style, as a possible explanation for Ireland's sluggish starts in games, but was particularly aggrieved by the manner in which they conceded the opening goal of the game, Kader Hancar finishing past Courtney Brosnan. "This is our fifth game under Carla, it's not going to be perfect," she said. "From a standards point of view, we have to implement that (gameplan) a little quicker and come out of the traps faster. "If we want to be pushing for (League) A in the Nations League, we can't be conceding goals like that, we gave them too much space. We need to take more care with the ball." After playing her part in Arsenal's Champions League-winning exploits against Barcelona last week, there were suspicions that Ward might start the Tallaght woman on the bench. McCabe however was included from the off, putting in a player of the match display and said she never had any fears that mental or physical exertions from the club celebrations would impact her international duties. "I feel really good," she said. "It was a massive result for the club last week and we were ecstatic with becoming champions. I enjoyed the full celebrations, but it was full focus on these two games. "I said to Carla when I came in I was ready to play and give it all for the team."
The 42
3 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Ireland 'need to be miles better' as Ward and McCabe target Slovenia shootout in Cork
HEAD COACH CARLA Ward and captain Katie McCabe say Ireland need to be 'miles better' than tonight's last-gasp rescue win in Türkiye. Emily Murphy bagged the winner in the 89th minute, sparing Irish blushes after another disappointing performance against lower-ranked opposition. But the 2-1 comeback victory kept them in the race for Nations League promotion: Slovenia remain top of Group B2 ahead of a Páirc Uí Chaoimh shootout next Tuesday, where Ireland must win by more than four goals to usurp them and return to League B. The runners-up get another shot in the play-offs in October. 'Listen, that's character. That's an Irish mentality,' Ward told RTÉ's Tony O'Donoghue after tonight's game. 'It was never rolling over, even when we went 1-0 down. We're disappointed with the goal. The reaction after that, the togetherness, the attitude to go and win tackles, close gaps, making sure that we were front-footed, was something that we can be proud of. I actually think winning it like that, at the death, puts us in a good position for Tuesday.' 🇹🇷 1-2 🇮🇪 Carla Ward praised the "character" and "Irish mentality" of her team after they came from behind to win in Turkey but admitted Ireland will need to be a lot better against group leaders Slovenia#UWNL #COYGIG — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 30, 2025 Advertisement The former Aston Villa boss said there will be 'honest conversations about how we start bright' as she outlined some improvements required. 'We need to be better. We need to be way better come Tuesday, but most important thing is we got the three points tonight. 'We have to win 5-0 [against Slovenia], right? It's not easy against any team now because women's football is improving in every country. It's going to be tough, but we'll go out there with an attitude, a mindset and belief that anything is possible. The Irish love that, I love that, it's why I took the job.' 'You saw us finish with a lot of attacking players on the pitch, you might see that's the way we start. We certainly will give it absolutely everything,' she added, calling for 'every bit of Irish noise and blood' in Cork. McCabe, meanwhile, echoed her manager's sentiments as she finished a whirlwind week, in which she won the Champions League with Arsenal, with the Player of the Match award in Istanbul. 'We got the result and that's what matters in the end, but from a performance point of view, we have to be miles better going into Tuesday,' the skipper said. 'We didn't move the ball quick enough, we didn't move Türkiye quick enough, and allowed them to get in the game with some sloppy mistakes. We need a massive improvement if we're going to beat Slovenia on Tuesday.' 🇹🇷 1-2 🇮🇪 Ireland captain Katie McCabe: "We got the result and that's what matters in the end but from a performance point of view we have to be miles better going into Tuesday"#UWNL — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 30, 2025 McCabe shared her disappointment with the 'cheap' concession early in the second half, and paid tribute to the impact substitutes, including match-winner Murphy, as Ireland laboured to four wins from five under Ward. 'We're trying to do a lot of different things in terms of how we approach games more on the front foot. That takes time. This is our fifth game under Carla and the new management, it's not going to be perfect, but for us from a standards point of view, we have to look to come out of the tracks a little bit sharper.' Putting four goals past Slovenia will be a 'tough ask,' McCabe conceded, but she believes Ireland can do it 'if we're at our absolute best'. The Dubliner also reflected on her European club success, and insists she feels 'really good' after a physically and emotionally draining few days — and season overall. 'It was a massive result for us and the club last week in Lisbon, we were absolutely ecstatic becoming champions. 'Yeah, you enjoy the celebrations, but it was full focus on these two games. I said to Carla when I came in, 'I'm ready to play and give it all for the team.' I feel good going into Tuesday now, another big performance, rest and recover.'
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
'That's an Irish mentality' - Carla Ward hails spirit in Turkey
Carla Ward believes "an Irish mentality" helped her side turn things around against Turkey and keep their Nations League promotion hopes alive. One down heading into the 80th minute, a Busem Seker OG and an excellent Emily Murphy volley got the Republic of Ireland out of Istanbul with a precious 2-1 victory. They finish their campaign with a clash against unbeaten Slovenia at Páirc Ui Chaoimh on Tuesday. The Girls in Green were hammered 4-0 in Koper, so they must beat the Slovenians by five goals or more to top the group and gain promotion to League A. If they don't, Ireland will head for the two-legged promotion/relegation play-offs in the autumn, when they'll be pitted against one of the third-placed League A sides. "That's character, that's character for you," Ward told RTÉ Sport when reflecting on Friday's win. "That's an Irish mentality... never rolling over. Even when we went 1-0 down - which we're disappointed with the goal - the reaction after that, the togetherness, the attitdue to go and win tackles, close gaps, making sure we were front footed is something we can walk away and be proud of. "I actually think winning it like that at the death puts us in a good position for Tuesday." Any late win is a sweet one, but overall this was not a strong Irish display. They looked short of ideas against well organised, physical opponents, delivering another under-par first-half showing - something that's become a bad habit over the last few matches. "It's something we've got to keep addressing," Ward said. "We've got to keep trying to work out why, and it's something we spoke about before the game, 'let's not wait till half-time to adjust and go after things, we have to start brighter'. "We can't wait for 45 minutes against Slovenia to be at them. There's going to be a lot of looking at that. We've got to dissect it, we've got to get into it, we'll go and have some honest conversations about how we start bright. "But listen this group's hungry. They don't want to roll over, they want to go. We've got a young and hungry squad that want to all play. "We saw that tonight with some changes. We need to be way better come Tuesday. There'll be a few things we need to tweak again, but the most important thing is we got the three points." Slovenia have won all five of their games so far and utterly dismantled Ireland back in February. Managed by Sasa Kolman, who counts Donegal boss Jim McGuinness as mentor, they are unquestionaly a coming team. To beat them by any scoreline will require a top performance . To beat them by five would be a minor miracle. But Ward insists her players will keep the faith and give everything to pull off what would be a remarkable result. "We've lost one game, which we know hurt us," she added. "We walked away with a win tonight, let's remember that. We've put ourselves in a position were we can go on Tuesday and try and finish top. If we don't, then we've put oursleves in a position now where we get a second bite of the cherry in (the play-offs in) October. "We have to win 5-0, which is not easy against any team now because women's football is improving in every country as you can see in all the Nations Leagues, A, B and C. So it's going to be tough. "One thing we will do is go out there with an attitude, a mindset and a belief that anything is possible. The Irish love that. I love that. It's why I took the job. We'll certainly give it absolutely everything. "I've heard an awful lot about Cork, I've heard about the noise down there. We're going to need everyone. We're going to need every single bit of Irish noise and blood because we're going to give everything, and we need the fans to back us, we need the fans to be there, loud.
