'There were tears. We are very proud' - O'Sullivan family get behind Denise and the Girls in Green

There were a few tears, plenty of cheers and quite a few beers in the Woolshed Bar and Grill, and that was all before 11 o’clock on Thursday morning.

The pub in the heart of Cork city isn’t normally open at this time during the week but this isn’t any normal day.

This is a day that will be remembered for generations to come as the day the Republic of Ireland’s Women’s National Team finally competed at a major tournament. And a World Cup at that.

Front and centre of this watch-along party is the family of Denise O’Sullivan, most of whom can be easily spotted as they have the name and number of the talented playmaker on the back of their jerseys. There’s almost too many of them to count.

Amidst the buzz and the excitement, it’s easy to forget that this party, or at least the scale of it, was in serious jeopardy just six days earlier when Denise was taken to hospital after sustaining a heavy challenge during Ireland’s behind closed doors “friendly” against Colombia.

More serious than that though, the midfielder’s participation in the finals was also in doubt.

“We found out not long after it happened. When she was in hospital – I was actually in Tenerife – and she messaged me and she said, ‘I’m actually in hospital, potentially with a broken leg.’ I nearly had a heart attack,” admitted her sister Melissa.

Back at home their mother Nuala was similarly concerned: “We were devastated. She was devastated herself too. We were worried in case she wouldn’t play.” 

But as they well know, Denise is made of stern stuff. Against all odds, the 29-year-old overcame that knock to the shin to take her place in the centre of the Irish side as the game kicked-off.

“She came back because she is strong,” added Nuala. “We are all just so proud