After the fallout at the conclusion of Vera Pauw's time in charge of the Ireland WNT, things have been rosey thus far under the stewardship of Eileen Gleeson.
With Ireland coming out of a first ever World Cup, and staring down the inaugural UEFA Women's Nations League, Gleeson was instated as an interim basis for the duration of the campaign as the FAI continue their hunt for Pauw's permanent successor.
To say that the Nations League group has gone well for Ireland so far would be an understatement, with three wins from three, 12 goals scored, and just one conceded. Friday's 5-1 win over Albania was the highlight of the campaign thus far, and Ireland need just four points from their final three games to secure top spot in the group and promotion to League A.
Gleeson has implemented an exciting, attacking style of play - but, speaking ahead of Tuesday's return leg against Albania, she told Balls.ie and the Irish media on Monday, she said that the success of that style has been entirely down to the dedication of the playing squad:
It’s the girls that are doing it all. Obviously, it’s the potential that they have in them.
We’re playing a little bit higher up the pitch, these games allow us to do that. We’re using players in different positions and working on different areas that allows them to have a little bit of freedom then in their play and making decisions and using their creativity - that they have always thought that they have.
We don’t have to do too much to motivate the girls. They’re very motivated.
We want to get the win tomorrow, we want to have a good performance from the start to the finish of the game. We want to get three points, we want to top the group. We want to get to the EURO 2025 qualification.
There’s not too much you have to do to drive that message with the girls. We just have to help them to put that into action.
It’s the girls on the pitch, it’s their performances, and it’s them that are getting the results and giving people a good spectacle to watch.
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Eileen Gleeson hails Katie McCabe's influence in Ireland dressing room
23 September 2023; Republic of Ireland Interim head coach Eileen Gleeson and Katie McCabe after the UEFA Women's Nations League B1 match between Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
There have been plenty of consistently reliable performers during this Nations League campaign thus far. Kyra Carusa has four goals in three games, the back three of Caitlin Hayes, Louise Quinn, and Diane Caldwell have shipped just one goal, and youngsters such as Izzy Atkinson and Abbie Larkin are exciting fans down the wings.
One stands above the rest, however - Ireland's newest Ballon d'Or nominee, Katie McCabe.
The Arsenal star was the hat-trick hero in Friday's victory over Albania, and Gleeson praised her captain for her influence in the dressing room ahead of the return leg in Shkoder on Tuesday:
Katie is a huge influence in the dressing room, she’s the player on the level that other players aspire to.
She demonstrates that on the pitch. She has a great work ethic, she’s able to guide the younger players, she’s able to support, she’s able to challenge.
She has all the attributes of a really good leader. She’s demonstrating that with us and the players look up to her. She’s a really strong leader.
It’s disappointing that she can’t get [to Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony] in terms of the scheduling and the international clash – but we’ll look to fully support and recognise Katie’s nomination tonight, yeah.
Gleeson also acknowledged the frustrations of the squad with their slow start to the victory over Albania in Tallaght, and said the group had worked to address that ahead of Tuesday's game.
If Ireland play at all in the manner that they did in the second half on Friday, however, the rest of this Nations League group should not pose too much of a challenge to them.
Even if Eileen Gleeson seems to have ruled herself out of contention to take up the role of permanent manager, the steps being taken under her direction are clearly building on the success of the World Cup campaign, ahead of next year's EURO 2025 qualifying campaign.
Ireland face Albania in Shkoder on Tuesday night, with kick-off at 5pm Irish time. The game is live on RTÉ Two.
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