Sinead Farrelly retires from international football just eight caps into Ireland career

Sinead Farrelly has called time on her brief yet impactful international career with the Republic of Ireland.

First selected last April, aged 33, for a 2-0 loss to the USA, Farrelly dovetailed with Denise O’Sullivan in the Irish midfield during the 2023 World Cup when she started all three group matches.

“We were waiting on a player like Sinead,” said Vera Pauw, the former Ireland manager after Farrelly’s debut in Austin, Texas. “Because of her we could play the way we did.”

A neat and tidy midfielder, the Pennsylvanian’s creativity was extremely valuable to the group.

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Farrelly retires with just eight caps, having missed three of last year’s six Nations League ties as back spasms blocked her boarding a six-hour flight from New Jersey, where she plays for Gotham FC. She also sustained a concussion against Hungary in Tallaght last December, an injury that previously caused her serious issues following a car crash in 2016.

What is remarkable about Farrelly’s international career and recent success at Gotham is that both came after a seven-year hiatus from professional soccer, due to injuries and trauma related to allegations of sexual coercion that she and team-mate Meleana Shim levelled at their former coach Paul Riley.

“It is with a tremendous amount of sadness that I’ve made the difficult decision to retire from international football,” Farrelly said via an FAI statement. “Even though I was a latecomer to international football, it meant so much to me and my family. To pull on the Ireland jersey, sing the national anthem and represent the Farrelly family from Cavan (and beyond) was truly special.

“I’d like to thank Vera Pauw and Eileen Gleeson, all of the back room and support staff, every player who I was proud to call a team-mate and, of course, the amazing Irish supporters who welcomed me with open arms.

[ Back from the brink: Sinead Farrelly returns from seven-year exile ]

“To play for Ireland was a dream that came true and it is an experience that I will cherish forever. I got to play in a World Cup but more than that I got to play for this country and I’m just so grateful for having that opportunity because it is one of the greatest honours of my career.

“I will continue to support the team and will always hold close the fantastic memories that I made playing for Ireland.”

Ireland head coach Eileen Gleeson added: “I’d like to thank Sinead for her time representing Ireland and we wish her the very best in her career going forward.”