If anyone deserves a bit of luck in a green shirt, it's Megan Campbell.
The 31-year-old has had desperate luck with injuries over the years. Campbell should be creeping towards a hundred caps by now, but she only earned her 50th last May against Sweden in Dublin.
Perhaps her fortune is about to turn as Ireland enter another new era.
Stationed as a left-sided centre-back in the win against Turkey on Friday night, she was excellent; composed and progressive in possession, Campbell offered real balance in what was, overall, a disjointed Irish display.
With the dust long settled on the Euro 2025 play-off final loss to Wales, Campbell is now hoping for a central role under new head coach Carla Ward.
"Having the support and backing of the staff to step in and start that game was a comfort for me and a confidence booster," said the Drogheda native.
"We want to be on the ball and we want to keep possession and do that higher up the pitch. We changed from a 3-5-2 to a 4-3-3 so obviously you have one less in the back-line which creates an extra one up front. We needed to move them and at times we didn't, even if the pitch didn’t help with movement on and off the ball, passes into pockets and stuff were maybe coming up short.
"But it was positive and we were trying things. We didn’t expect them to press as high. You need to be comfortable in possession."
Ever since Vera Pauw departed in August 2023 it's been debated whether this Ireland team are technically strong enough to be a passing side. Pauw had success by making them a rigid, organised defensive block capable of hurting the opposition on the counter. The players clearly believe they can evolve into something more than that, but it's a tricky process that's still in development.
Megan Campbell is relishing her role in a new Republic of Ireland formation. pic.twitter.com/u6zvNzS4uP
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 21, 2025
"We have the quality to do that," Campbell added. "But the confidence is something we have maybe lacked in ourselves as a group. Now we need to put that right in terms of our confidence, because everyone is technically good enough.
"The quality is there. As a team and as a squad, we are good enough.
"You can’t shy away from having the ball. Football is about having possession and creating opportunities. And we haven’t done that in a long time in terms of possession-based football with the national team. So we’re changing that up now.
"It’s not going to be perfect overnight. It’s a process we’re going through with new staff and it’s about building the confidence to enjoy having the football a lot more. Ultimately football is a game of opinions and people might disagree. We know we are good enough to be on the ball and good enough to create chances than previously."
Next up for the Girls in Green is a clahs with Slovenia in Koper on Tuesday. That, on paper, looks like the toughest challenge Ireland will face in this Nations League campaign. They'll need to improve on their showing against the Turks, but Campbell is confident things will click.
And key to that is new assistant head coach Alan Mahon, who's made a good impression on the training ground this week.
"He's brilliant," Campbell added. "He’s been in the game himself, he’s coached at a high level for so long. He’s a brilliant guy and I’m so happy for him to get in here and he deserves the opportunity.
"He’s bringing such a positivity and showing that technical aspect in how w can become better. You need people like that, he’s fantastic and he’s great to have."
