Campbell & O'Riordan define spirit of the collective

Back in August 2018, then Republic of Ireland manager Colin Bell talked up some of the country's most promising talents.

One of them was Claire O'Riordan. The defender had just departed Wexford Youths to join Bundesliga side MSV Duisberg, and the feeling was that she, along with the likes of Leanne Kiernan and Heather Payne who had also just left the Women's National League to go to England, would form part of a new Irish backbone.

It would be four years before O'Riordan started for Ireland again.

She's had to show patience and resilience in that period but they're two qualities the Limerick woman has in spades. She suffered an awful ankle injury a year ago that required surgery, but O'Riordan came back stronger from that, her form in Germany proving too good for Pauw to ignore.

Having been part of the last few squads, injuries to Megan Connolly, Niamh Fahey and a Jamie Finn suspension opened the door for O'Riordan to make a long-awaited start in Tuesday's 1-0 win in Slovakia. She grabbed it with both hands.

"We're footballers we enjoy playing football. It makes us happy," the 27-year-old told RTÉ Sport afterwards.

"Everyone is absolutely delighted with the result, we couldn't be happier.

"The last couple of days we knew that we were going to be without Megan Connolly so it was up to the coaching staff to fill the gap. It could have been any one of us to jump in and do the job.

"I'm obviously delighted it was me and that I could step into the shoes of Megan Connolly."

It's a running theme among Pauw and all of her players that this is a squad effort.

Katie McCabe and Louise Quinn in particular have spent the week talking about the importance of the collective; McCabe actually dedicated the Slovakia win to "the girls back home who