Oct 28,2024
You'd need to have a cold heart to begrudge Marissa Sheva her moment on Friday night.
The American-born midfielder capped a bright cameo off the bench with a fine goal as the Republic of Ireland fired home a glut of late goals to beat Georgia 6-0 in their Euro 2025 play-off semi-final.
Tomorrow night's return game in Tallaght is a non-event now, but for Sheva, a sweet moment in green was a long time coming.
It’s 15 months since Hayley Raso went down like a sack of coal after feeling a Sheva nudge on her back 51 minutes into Ireland’s World Cup opener against Australia. That split-second lapse in concentration gifted the Matildas a penalty and, ultimately, victory.
Later, the cameras would capture a distraught Sheva on the bench, her eyes stung red with tears.
Sheva fell out of favour after the tournament. Vera Pauw was always an admirer of her capabilities, but her exit - and Eileen Gleeson's arrival - left Sheva out in the cold for almost a year as newer faces came on the scene.
A move to Portland Thorns last March invigorated the pacy Pennsylvanian.
Gleeson took notice, and last Friday she gave the 27-year-old her first minutes in 14 months as a replacement for Lily Agg.
A sprightly showing, and of course that precious goal, meant a lot.
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When asked if she thought her Ireland days might be over, Sheva replied: "Yeah. But it’s a decision entirely out of my hands. At some point you’ve to let that go and do what you can at club level to prove yourself. I didn’t fully give up hope but it was definitely a thought.
"This group never made me feel like I needed redemption from that (Australia) game. I owe that to them but it definitely feels good to put one on the board.
"I’ve been absolutely buzzing to be back. That has energised me because this is my favourite place to be. I’m hoping to keep getting some wins to qualify."
Sheva has had to watch from the outside for a long time with a wave of talent getting a crack of the whip throughout the Nations League and League A Euro qualifiers.
Is this Ireland squad better than the one that qualified for the World Cup under Pauw?
"It’s a different squad and only my second camp back in," she said.
"It’s a squad that’s deep. There’s a lot of young players coming in, proving themselves and showing they’re capable of being in the squad. That’s been really exciting.
"I’ve no expectations whatsoever on (playing regularly). I’m just thrilled to be back in training with the girls every day. These are my favourite group of girls and I’m delighted to be back in."
With the tie done and dusted, Sheva might find herself starting in an experimental XI on Tuesday.
Gleeson has hinted she could take the opportunity to blood younger fringe squad players like Eva Mangan and Ellen Molloy.
Sheva could be handed a rare start, another chance to show what she’s made of as she aims to reboot her international career.
"We’ll expect their team from the first half that came at us and didn’t make it easy," she added.
"We’ll respect them and see what they have to give us. We’re at home and for sure there’ll be no complacency. We’re looking forward to getting back to Tallaght."
