SOME clever dick was ahead of the social media posse by super-imposing Vera Pauw’s head on Mick McCarthy’s and Katie McCabe’s on Roy Keane’s in that infamously cool handshake after Ireland had beaten Holland at Lansdowne Road in 2001.
As the Irish women’s team bowed out of their first-ever World Cup finals after a scoreless draw with Nigeria in Brisbane on Monday, a new footballing civil war was beginning to unfold.
Twenty-one years ago, Saipan divided a nation. Perhaps not on the same scale, but already Vera Pauw and Katie McCabe camps are forming from the fall-out Down Under.
In her post-match media briefing yesterday, the Dutch woman revealed to reporters that McCabe demanded changes midway through the second half against Nigeria before Pauw told her captain that she was not the coach.
McCabe later posted on her Twitter page an emoji with zipped lips. It was all a bit undignified as the Ireland manager doesn’t know if Nigeria was her last game in charge, with the FAI remaining tight-lipped on a two-year contract extension that seems to have been placed in cold storage, even before a ball was kicked in Australia.
In plain terms, the team’s World Cup preparations were a bit mad – and yet their performances probably exceeded most people’s expectations.
There was a cold wind blowing between manager and captain in Tallaght 15 days before their opening game against Australia.
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Sitting side by side for a pre-match press conference for the France game the following evening, Pauw addressed the historic allegations against her coaching abilities dating back to her time with Houston Dash in 2018 that were regurgitated by The Athletic earlier that week.
It was not the mood music a group of World Cup rookies needed before travelling to Australia – as reporters questioned the wisdom of the manager granting an interview to The Athletic.
During the press conference, McCabe declined the opportunity to back her international manager getting a two-year extension.
“Of course, Vera has a style of management that we're used to now over the last two years,” McCabe said.
“We’ve argued with each other, of course. You're never going to get on 100 per cent with your manager at times.
“She pushes me - and I push her. We’ve clashed many a times but we’re always professional enough to make sure we are fully focused for the team.
“We know both of our hearts are in the right place in terms of what works best for the Ireland women’s national team going forward. And again, of course the article’s timing is not great, but our full focus will be France tomorrow.”
The press conference was a PR disaster and revealed the tensions between Pauw and McCabe. From that moment, it seemed nobody was prepared to put the team above everything else.
Although well-intentioned, Pauw should not have given the interview to The Athletic because of the inevitable noise it would create before the finals – and McCabe should have backed her manager, if only in the interests of keeping the volume low.
Instead, reporters mused about the terrible body language between the pair.
The FAI’s top brass appeared to adopt a wait-and-see approach before agreeing to retain Pauw for another campaign.
Even though Ireland crashed out after their three group games, the performances were definitely encouraging. Better than expected too, even with the tactical misgivings that emerged from game to game.
Which infects many national teams when they realise what got them to a major tournament mightn't serve them well when they get there.
McCabe, undoubtedly, was one of Ireland's best performers in Australia - but her lack of tactical discipline cannot be airbrushed from the games.
Rookie international Marissa Sheva was hung out to dry for conceding the penalty against Australia when it was McCabe that went AWOL from her sentry position.
Similarly, the Irish skipper was slow to react for Canada's winning goal in Perth.
As for Pauw, would it have hurt so much to give a few more squad players - fresh and eager - the chance to play at the World Cup?
The Nigeria game was a 'dead rubber', after all.
From the outside looking in, and the utterances from some key players, it doesn’t seem like Pauw has a lot allies.
And now she’s picked a fight with Ireland’s World Cup poster girl.
Few would bet on Pauw getting that contract extension she desires.
TOURNAMENT RATINGS
Courtney Brosnan: Arguably Ireland’s best player at these finals. Secure in the opener against Australia, the New Jersey-born ‘keeper made some brilliant saves against Canada and there were touches of the Gordon Banks about her wonder save to deny Nigeria’s Uchenna Kanu’s downward header in Brisbane. 8.5
Heather Payne: Played quite conservatively, as the entire team did, against Australia and was a late withdrawal for the Canada game with a muscle injury. A slight surprise she was recalled for the ‘dead rubber’ match against Nigeria. 6
Niamh Fahey: The Canada game will be the one that niggles the Liverpool defender as she might have done more to stop Grosso’s cross that led to the gut-wrenching equaliser just before half-time in Perth. Probably better suited to playing in a flat back four, but was uncompromising in the tackle and in the air. At 35, is this the end of the road for the Galway native? 7
Louise Quinn: You knew what you were getting from Louise Quinn as soon as she walked onto the field. Attacked everything in the air and rarely lost a duel and was always dangerous from Ireland’s set-pieces. At 33, over 100 caps to her name and now having played in a World Cup, she may consider her international future, but she definitely has more to give at this level. 7.5
Megan Connolly: Her body shape was all wrong as she turned the ball into her own net against Canada, but the Brighton player deserves to be cut some slack as she was shoehorned into an unfamiliar defensive role. Great free-kick technique and unlucky not to score against Australia. 6.5
Katie McCabe: A warrior footballer that every team needs. She was Ireland’s best player against Australia and Canada, even if her positioning was poor for Australia’s penalty award and Canada’s second goal. Wrote herself into the history books by scoring Ireland’s first-ever goal at a World Cup finals. Ran out of gas against Nigeria. 8.5
Ruesha Littlejohn: A bit one-paced and maybe struggles in the last quarter of games, but Ireland’s defensive pivot read the game so well and had a brilliant tournament. Disciplined against Australia, struggled a bit in the second half against Canada’s midfield, but excelled against Nigeria and was more confident in her passing. 8
Denise O’Sullivan: Not the tournament the Cork native dreamed of. Whether it was due to a pre-tournament injury or simply being played in a conservative midfield role, she was played further forward against Nigeria and seemed liberated, producing her best game out of the three. 6.5
Sinead Farrelly: Technically excellent starting all three games but only managing to finish one of them. And that was Farrelly’s problem: she didn’t have enough in the tank when games opened up in the final quarter. 6.5
Kyra Carusa: The American-born striker does what it says on the tin. She held the ball up and was a major goal threat in the first half against Canada. Carusa was never going to outstrip opposing defences with her modest pace but leaves Australia as Ireland’s best front player. 7
Lily Agg: Her inclusion for the Nigeria game meant that Denise O’Sullivan could play higher up the field. Featured in two games out of three. 6
Abbie Larkin: The teenager sparkled in the latter stages against Australia. 6
Amber Barrett: Just one appearance and might have deserved another. 6
Louise Quinn: Had an excellent first half against Canada. 6
Marissa Sheva: Suffered unfair criticism for conceding the penalty against Australia. Did well off the bench against Canada. 6
Izzy Atkinson: Two substitute appearances and did well against Canada. 5
Diane Caldwell: A late appearance against Nigeria from the veteran. Possibly her farewell. 5
