Leanne Kiernan insists World Cup pain was part of her destiny

Leanne Kiernan didn't linger on her omission from the Republic of Ireland's World Cup squad last summer. She's too philosophical, too laid back to dwell on things beyond her control.

Instead she went back to the family pig farm in Bailieborough, Co Cavan to muck in and spend some precious time at home.

The 26-year-old Liverpool striker had worked incredibly hard to recover from an ankle problem that derailed most of her season, but she couldn't prove to Vera Pauw that she was fit enough to make the plane.

Handed a start against Zambia in the penultimate friendly before the tournament, Kiernan looked like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders in a tough first half that ended with Ireland 1-0 down and toiling.

At the break, Kiernan made way for Amber Barrett, who scored twice as the Girls in Green recovered to win 3-2. And that was that. Barrett, Kyra Carusa, Abbie Larkin and Marissa Sheva were the quartet of attackers used in Australia, while Kiernan stayed at home.

"I don't think I was that disappointed, which is maybe strange in other people's eyes," she said at the team's Castleknock Hotel base ahead of Friday's Euro 2024 clash with Sweden at the Aviva Stadium.

"I very much believe that what's for me won't pass me. I wasn't supposed to go that World Cup, I wasn't ready. And I'm okay with that. I had a really nice summer. I feel like there was an awful lot of people disappointed for me, but I was chilling! I was having a good time.

"Of course it would have been nice to be involved but I just feel like, Leanne wasn't ready to go that one. I feel like I'll be ready for the next one.

"I'd a really nice summer with my family which maybe I don't get. I left (for England) six or seven years ago and I haven't been home for