Sinead Farrelly on prayer, calm & Amhrán na bhFiann

As the noise and madness of a World Cup blares all around her, Sinead Farrelly takes sanctuary in prayer and writing in her journal.

The 33-year-old's journey to this point is one of the stories of the tournament.

Farrelly only returned to the game in March after an eight-year absence. In 2015 she suffered concussion in a serious car crash, though the tue scale of the stress she faced around that period only came to light six years later when Farrelly and her old team-mate Mana Shim went public with allegations against former Portland Thorns coach Paul Riley. The subsequent investigations found widespread sexual abuse and misconduct in the NWSL.

A shock call-up to the Republic of Ireland squad in April has ultimately led her to Australia; to playing in Sydney in front over almost 76,000 people, producing backheels and clever touches in the white heat of elite international football.

And yet away from the pitch, when the eyes of millions are focused elsewhere, Farrelly admits she's fighting a perpetual internal battle.

"When the [Australia] game started I was fine but for 24 hours before it I was physically ill," she says.

"I did not feel good. I was just trusting when the whistle blew I would be okay. That's all I could hope for.

"I was so nervous and filled with a lot of fear and had a lot of anxiety so I think that clouds it sometimes. I was trying my best to be present. I really want to enjoy every moment of this. There are a lot of layers to this and a lot of emotions. It is not as easy as that sometimes, although I wish it was.

"I am enjoying it as much as I can. I know this is a special moment and it means a lot and I just feel really grateful to be here and to have the opportunity.

"You have to focus on the game and not be