Lucy Quinn: Irish mentality opening new doors

Republic of Ireland attacker Lucy Quinn can trace the side's sliding doors moment to a fixture that took place a year ago as they prepare for today’s crucial World Cup qualifier against Slovakia.

Last September, on the night the Birmingham City player made her debut after a series of roadblocks, Vera Pauw’s team defeated Australia 3-2 in an international friendly at Tallaght Stadium.

Had they lost to one of the world’s highest ranked sides, it would have been their eighth straight defeat and perhaps pressure would have started to mount on the management team. Instead, they have lost just twice in their last 12 games – a battling 1-0 reverse against Sweden and 1-0 to Russia in the Pinatar Cup.

"It was something [the losing streak] that I was aware of coming into the camp and obviously when you’re playing against a team like Australia you just want to go out and perform your best," Quinn told RTÉ Sport ahead of today's game.

"I don’t feel like we were up against it as people expected us to be, I think we performed really well and we showcased ourselves and our abilities.

"To come away with a win and break that streak and give us a whole bundle of confidence, [it] just benefited us all through the year.

"I feel like it it’s just confidence with ourselves and confidence within the group.

"Football is a mental game, definitely. Obviously you have to be physically capable but mentality is really important and I think that triggered a real winning mentality within the squad.

"We have seen ourselves go from strength to strength from then."

Ireland lead! Lucy Quinn's terrific free-kick cannons off Mackenzie Arnold and rolls in. Live updates: https://t.co/EORUAQcQn9 #RTEsoccer pic.twitter.com/ZBx3IDuzgC

As well as their battles with Sweden