Sinead Farrelly: 'There's been a change in energy'

Sinead Farrelly says there's been "a change in energy" within the Republic of Ireland squad since Eileen Gleeson took the reins following Vera Pauw's departure.

Pauw called USA-based Farrelly into the panel for the first time last April. She immediately impressed, going on to start all three of Ireland's games at the World Cup in Australia.

Farrelly was unwittingly embroiled in a fallout between Pauw and Katie McCabe, who urged the manager to make changes towards the end of the final group game against Nigeria, which ended scoreless. Pauw would afterwards imply that McCabe wanted Farrelly to be withdrawn to get more energy onto the pitch.

Midfielder Farrelly laughed off any suggestion there was any lingering tension between her and McCabe, and stressed that the team is in a positive place.

Sinead Farrelly reflected on the vibe in the Ireland camp under Eileen Gleeson since Vera Pauw's departure when talking to @DAVEKELLY4 ahead of tomorrow's clash with Albania #RTEsoccer pic.twitter.com/n6poM4NInw

"No we're cool," she told RTÉ Sport ahead of Tuesday's UEFA Nations League clash in Albania.

"It wasn't a thing. It became a thing from people who didn't know what they were talking about. We're fine.

"She's amazing. You love to have her on your team, she's going to fight for you and she's obviously an incredible player. I love playing with her and gettting to combine because I feel we see the game similarly."

Reflecting more generally on Pauw's exit, Farrelly added: "I think things get blown out of proportion from the outside, but I think that chapter, it was time for that to close.

"We're in a new chapter and I think there's positives and negatives from the past. We're trying to be better and move forward and I think we're all really