When she walked away from football seven years ago, did Sinead Farrelly ever envisage she’d be off to the World Cup this summer, and with the Republic of Ireland, no less?
“Never. No. Straight answer, just no” she says, slightly laughing in an honest yet defiant disbelief.
A serious car crash was one contributing factor that would see her hang up her boots in 2016, but, as she detailed to The Athletic, there was also a much more sinister undertone to her leaving behind the sport she once loved at the age of just 27.
Whistleblowing to highlight a sexual coercion and harassment pattern by her former NWSL coach Paul Riley alongside her then Portland Thorns' teammate Mana Shim, she’s overcome hell and back to get to this point, and isn’t going to take it for granted.
What’s more, she’s proving that you can speak out, you can be heard and things do get better, and is hoping to demonstrate that fact to others.
In 2016, Sinead Farrelly announced her retirement from football.
Last Wednesday, she was named in Ireland's World Cup squad.
It's been an arduous journey for Farrelly, but the 33-year-old told @acunnane10 she's ready to make a huge contribution for Ireland in Australia. pic.twitter.com/FdsK5bQWuc— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) July 3, 2023
“I haven't taken a step back and been able to see what it all means yet” Farrelly says, reflecting on her selection as one of Vera Pauw’s 23 who are competing for Ireland Down Under this summer.
“I just like… I think I really want to just be an inspiration for people who have gone through maybe some tough things.
“I used to like attach myself to what happened in the past and stuff and I think just overcoming that and really alchemising it into something good has been so transformative for me as a person and I'm hoping to let other people know that they can do the same thing.”
Stressing that it’s important that she continue to share her story so other people “can see what's possible”, that tale itself “feels like a dream.”
Sinead Farrelly is heading to the World Cup. Incredible. pic.twitter.com/YuK30YZvSF
— Meg Linehan (@itsmeglinehan) June 28, 2023
Having made her home debut just last Thursday against France, there’s plenty of firsts yet to come for the midfielder who’s still building her match minutes, but taking everything in her stride.
“I was really nervous about it and I was excited” Farrelly says post-match.
“The support from the entire country and the fans is amazing and I think this is just one example of that. Seeing all the flags waving, you can feel the passion and the heart, hear the cheers from everyone, it has just been awesome.”
With her cramp she picked up towards the end of the game tagged as “nothing serious but super embarrassing”, she is yet to fully come to terms with the reality and enormity of the upcoming weeks and that opening clash vs Australia.
“It still feels a little bit surreal. It almost feels a bit of a blur.
“When it is over I'll be like 'oh that happened'. It will be hard not to feel that it’s real when you step out for that first game and there is 82,000 people there.
“30,000 is the most I've maybe played in front of before, that’s a pretty big difference! When you are on the field you kind of are present with what is going on but who knows what it is going to feel like.
“I trust that once I'm playing I'll be focused on getting the job done and I'll block it out. The second I start over thinking it is just a disaster. I'm just hoping for the best.”
Sinead Farrelly- the backstory and the future
Farrelly grew up in Pennsylvania but spent some years of her childhood in Ireland thanks to her Cavan-born father, Sean. Having started football at the age of five, she would go on to attend the University of Virginia and play for the Cavaliers there, as well as the USA at U17, U20 and U23 level.
Philadelphia Independence scooped her up as the second pick in the 2011 WPS Draft, with New York Fury, Apollon Limassol, FC Kansas City, the Portland Thorns and the Boston Breakers to make home for periods throughout her illustrious career.
She returned to football after a six year hiatus when she signed a one year deal with NJ/NY Gotham FC in March of 2023, ‘re-debuting’ in the NWSL after nearly eight years when she played vs Gotham FC on April 1st.
Beyond proud. Beyond excited. 🥹🇮🇪
Sinead Farrelly, yall! #FIFAWWC 🔜 pic.twitter.com/QE6WkSbn3M— NJ/NY Gotham FC (@GothamFC) June 28, 2023
Just a week later, and to everyone’s seeming surprise but Pauw and the WNT, Farrelly donned the Irish jersey for the first time, playing 60 minutes against a fitting and yet somewhat ironic opponent on April 8th- the USA.
“I think when I decided that I was going to try and get soccer back in my life, I had a coach who like put us in touch [with Ireland and Pauw] and we were in communication through my whole journey” she says.
“It was kind of a unique situation because I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to come back and play, or how my mind was going to do, how my body was going to do, so she was just really supportive of me just doing what I needed to do to feel like myself, get back and not rush it.
“Overall I just have so much gratitude for this opportunity and I really just want to enjoy it as much as I can.”
While the Girls In Green ultimately lost that tie 2-0, there was no shame in losing to one of the world’s best in what was a “surreal” moment for the world class midfielder.
“That was that was crazy”
“But I think and I truly believe my faith has been so important for me on this journey. I believe God has a plan for me and I just I'm trying to follow it.
“I like trust that this is all happening how it's meant to be.”
STARTING XI | USA v Ireland
Denise O’Sullivan leads us out on her 100th cap, while Sinead Farrelly makes her debut 🤩
Let’s GO 🙌☘️#COYGIG | #USAIRL pic.twitter.com/y2YThPpKTG— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) April 8, 2023
What future lies ahead for Farrelly and the Irish WNT in Australia and New Zealand this summer remains to be seen, but the 33 year old isn’t putting limits on anything.
“I mean, I think we're trying to win” she pauses, catching herself for a moment, “like as much as we can. I think that the biggest thing for this team is just like believing in ourselves and trusting ourselves.”
“Maybe like from an outside perspective we have a hard group and maybe people are doubting we'll get out of it, but I know that this team has so much fight and I really think we're capable of anything.
"We have to dream big.”
Dream big she did, and will continue to do, flying the flag for triumph over adversity, resilience and the Irish WNT in Oz.
