Denise O'Sullivan was delighted to put the pain of the Euro 2025 play-off loss to Wales behind her as a new era for the Republic of Ireland kicked off with a 1-0 Nations League win over Turkey in Carla Ward's first game in charge.
Kyra Carusa's first-half headed goal proved decisive at Tallaght Stadium, where O'Sullivan saw a shot of her own cleared off the line in the opening 45 minutes.
Turkey offered little in the way of attacking threat, but their rare sorties forward did produce a couple of heart-in-mouth moments for fans at a windy venue, where the playing surface was showing the effects of Shamrock Rovers' penalty shootout loss to Molde in the UEFA Conference League 24 hours earlier.
"We've only had a few days working with them, but to get the win tonight was very important.
"It was a tough game. It was scrappy, but the most important thing is that we got the three points."
Denise O'Sullivan is a deserved player of the match for her display in the Republic of Ireland's 1-0 win over Turkey in the Nations League. pic.twitter.com/vPX6i3gZeJ
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 21, 2025
O'Sullivan's energy levels never ebbed away despite the Cork's woman lack of recent club activity – the midfielder is still a number of weeks away from a new season with North Carolina Courage in the NWSL.
However, the 31-year-old admitted to no fears on the fitness front.
"If I'm in season or out of season, my job is to be fit and come into Ireland 100%, so 24 hours per day I take care of my body and that's why I show up like this," she said.
"I just keep working hard and I love it, it's very easy for me to do."
Ward's football philosophy, with a greater emphasis on expansive and fluid attack, requires a degree of technical nous that has understandably not yet become embedded in this new formation.
The adaption of a new approach is a key focus for O'Sullivan and her team-mates before next Tuesday's encounter with Slovenia.
"It's the first game under a new manager," O'Sullivan added.
"We've a long way to go and a lot to work on as a team, but we'll take a look at the video in the next few days and see what we can improve on."
