Looking after No 1: Ireland keeper Brosnan glad to have former critic Byrne in her corner
Facing down your critics is an occupational hazard of being an Ireland international.
Aiden McGeady endured it when Roy Keane walked in the door of the Ireland camp alongside Martin O’Neill in 2013.
Something similar must have occurred recently after Brian Kerr was parachuted in as technical advisor to a squad, among whom are a chunk of rookies he felt struggled to reach international standard.
Apprehension – rather than tension – was the overriding emotion which Ireland women’s goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan felt when coming face-to-face with Emma Byrne at the Castleknock Hotel last September.
Byrne is in a league of her own when it comes to Ireland’s goalkeeper club. Over 21 years, she earned 134 caps. That complemented her trophy-laden club career at Arsenal.
Their 2007 Champions League triumph remains elusive for English teams since, as does her record haul of caps for fellow internationals.
When Byrne speaks, or writes, people listen and read.
Her view about the goalkeeping situation in 2021 didn’t reflect well on Brosnan, for she advocated dumping the incumbent to facilitate newcomer Megan Walsh due to her regularity of games in the Women’s Super League.
Moreover, a sense lingered that the Everton custodian was, at least partially, culpable for Áine O’Gorman’s own-goal which denied Ireland a winnable playoff for the delayed Euros.
Vera Pauw ignored the external calls by keeping faith with the American. She has more than just consolidated her status but rescued Ireland in crucial matches along the World Cup journey against Sweden, Scotland and Nigeria.
Her haul of 34 caps is the most collected by a stopper since Byrne departed in 2017.
Now, just like Kerr, the legend has swapped the pundit’s seat for one part
Read on irishexaminer.com
