- Macdara Ferris
- Mon, Apr 17 2023
Macdara Ferris reports from Eamonn Deacy Park
They say it is about the journey rather than the destination.
However, while there was delight for Savannah McCarthy that her long journey back from a serious injury saw her finally make her Shamrock Rovers debut at the weekend, her ultimate destination is to make it to Australia as part of Ireland’s squad for this summer’s World Cup.
McCarthy was a second half substitute for the Hoops in their 1-1 draw away to Galway United on Saturday evening as she made it back to first team football after the ACL injury she suffered early last season.
There was a certain irony that her first time back on the pitch was on the very surface where she suffered her serious knee injury when playing for Galway WFC on 19th March last year.
Speaking to extratime.com on Saturday in Galway after her Hoops debut, McCarthy said: “For me to be out 13 months, it is a long road back. It was about getting my fitness back, do the rehab and when I come back, I'm back for good.
“Of course I am trying to get myself on the plane for the World Cup but right now for me it is about building my minutes, getting in with the home based training sessions and go from there.”
The 26-year-old player is part of a Rovers squad that is packed with Ireland internationals at senior and under-age levels. McCarthy replaced Abbie Larkin in the second half in Eamonn Deacy Park and slotted in at left back for the Hoops.
Larkin, along with Alannah McEvoy and Hoops skipper Áine O’Gorman, was part of Vera Pauw’s Ireland squad that played two games this month against the World Cup holders USA.
The Hoops youngsters played their part in the Ireland u19 team’s April Euro qualifiers – losing to Germany and defeating Norway and Croatia - with Jayne Merren, Lia O'Leary, Abby Tuthill, Jaime Thompson, Summer Lawless, Alannah Prizeman, Orlaith O'Mahony and Melissa O'Kane all part of the squad.
“I came back full training when the Ireland players were away in America,” said McCarthy who has played ten senior internationals for the Girls in Green having made her Ireland debut back in 2016.
“It is great to have eight girls away with the under-19s and three of the girls with the senior team - including Alannah getting her first call up.
"That is what you want, to be playing with the national team. It is a big year with the World Cup coming up and a lot of the girls will be pushing to get back into the squad.”
“It is an unbelievalbe setup (at Rovers) in terms of players and the management,” said the Tralee native. “It is top class coaches and we are playing with one of the best teams in the league.”
Collie O’Neill’s team kept up their unbeaten start to the campaign going over the weekend thanks to Jaime Thompson’s goal five minutes from time that cancelled out Gemma McGuinness’ first half strike.
It was Thompson’s fourth goal of the season, leaving her just one strike off the top scorer position in the league, with Rovers third in the table after three wins and two draws.
“Jaime has been class for us all season. Coming to Galway is never easy and I know that from being with Galway last year. They were a hard team to break down.
"Defensively they are well set up and organised. It was about us being patient and waiting for the right moment and Jaime popped up and scored another cracker.”
