Denise O'Sullivan wants more games in Cork after 'special' win

Denise O'Sullivan has called for more Republic of Ireland matches to be played at Páirc Uí Chaoimh after an electric atmosphere powered the Girls in Green past France on Tuesday evening.

Ireland produced their best performance of the Euro 2025 qualifier campaign to turn over an admittedly much-changed French side who had already sealed qualification for next year's tournament in Switzerland.

The Girls in Green still have work to do. The win on Leeside ensured they pipped Poland to the last seeded spot for the play-offs, which begin in October. Eileen Gleeson's charges will face a League C team in the two-legged semi-finals and then, most likely, a League B side in the final should they get there. In both instances the second leg will be played on Irish soil.

That's the reward for gaining seeded status via the team's overall European Qualifier ranking, and it begs the question: will Ireland come back to Cork for one of those play-off fixtures?

The answer is a resounding yes if O'Sullivan has anything to do with it.

"I grew up in this city," she said. "The city has done a lot for me, so to play here in Cork is phenomenal. I think we should be playing here more often, (the games) should be a bit more spread out.

"The fans were amazing. There was 18,000 there but it sounded like there was a lot more because they just never stopped. It gave me a lot of energy, they've been fantastic.

"To do it in front of my family… my partner is over from America as well and it's his birthday, so to get a goal for him on his birthday was very special. I’m absolutely buzzing."

O'Sullivan was walking on air as she spoke to the media in the aftermath of a strong Irish showing. The pace of attacking duo Leanne Kiernan and Julie-Ann Russell emboldened