Eoin Harrington reporting from Tallaght Stadium
Izzy Atkinson has found impressive form since bursting into the Ireland camp ahead of the World Cup, and now seems on her way to nailing down a starting spot in the team.
The West Ham wing-back started once again in Friday's nervy win over Hungary, her second start in this Nations League campaign.
Ireland have cruised through this group thus far, with big wins at home against Albania and Northern Ireland, and a 4-0 romp against Friday night's opponents in the reverse fixture in September, but Friday's game was a tougher affair, and Atkinson would be subbed off with over half an hour still to play.
In the 55 minutes she did get, Atkinson impressed with her darting runs down the left-hand side, but she was refreshingly honest in dissecting her own performance when speaking to Balls and the Irish media post-match:
I think we're just happy to come away with the three points...obviously it wasn't one of our best performances but we'll take the three points.
I was a bit disappointed personally, to be honest, going forward. Obviously attacking is my best trait and I didn't feel like I committed too much going forward. I'm just happy we got the three points.
It was one of those games where I just couldn't get into it. I felt like I was getting into it in the second-half and then I got taken off, but that's football!
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Izzy Atkinson reflects on a crazy 2023 for the Ireland WNT
Take a glance at social media on WSL matchdays, and you'll see more than a few West Ham fans calling for Izzy Atkinson to be pushed to the starting lineup.
Despite her impressive performances at club and international level this season, Atkinson has struggled for regular game time with the Hammers, and went on to say that she feels at home when she returns to the Ireland WNT camp:
At West Ham, I've not been getting the minutes and then I come in here, honestly not expecting to start.
It's good that I've got the faith in me, and there's no better feeling than playing for your country. I'm just happy that I've got the belief behind me here and it just gives me confidence every camp. I'm really happy.
It's clear from speaking to Atkinson just how much playing for her country means to her, and she would drive home that point when reflecting on what has been a chaotic 2023 for Ireland.
After a tough night in Tallaght, Izzy Atkinson says that she has nonetheless never felt prouder than when she plays for Ireland 💚
She also joked that the squad are getting "sick of each other" after spending so much of a memorable 2023 together 🤣#IrelandWNT #COYGIG pic.twitter.com/fot0RBPmtR— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) December 2, 2023
As the interviews went on, eager fans hammered on the doors of the media room in Tallaght, eager to catch a glimpse of some of the players who have made themselves national heroes across a memorable 2023 for the Ireland WNT.
Reflecting on that 2023, Atkinson said that it was the proudest she had felt yet in her footballing career - while also joking that the players in the squad may now know each other almost too well:
I was only telling my dad that, at this moment in time, it's the proudest I've ever felt playing for Ireland.
With the World Cup and...coming in to camps when things at club aren't going as well as I'd hope, I come in here and it makes me enjoy football again and being around everyone. There's no better feeling than being here - it's just been the best year of my life.
We were just talking about it - we've spent one third of the year together this year. We've had 100 and something days out of 365, which is mad. We're all just sick of each other!
The year that was has also seen several new and returning faces into the camp, and there is a distinct new wave of young Irish talent bursting through to compliment the experience of players such as Katie McCabe, Denise O'Sullivan, et al.
16-year-old Freya Healy was the latest to get her first call up to the squad ahead of Friday's game and, even if she did not ultimately make the matchday panel, her inclusion speaks volumes about how much the Ireland coaches are willing to trust in youth.
Still only 22, Atkinson told us on Friday that she is grateful to no longer be the youngest player in the squad, and that she is eager to take the young players under her wing in the same way others did for her:
It's nice to not be the young one anymore!
There's been a few new players coming in, Freya and Ellen, so it's been really nice. It makes me think back to when I was 16 and I got called in. You see how nervous they are and you just want to be there for them, push them in training.
It reminds me of when I was there and how far I've come.
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