Street football made Denise O'Sullivan the player she is today

WATCHING Denise O'Sullivan playing is like poetry in motion. 

She is flawless in possession of the football, while she also has plenty of flair and never is one to back down from a challenge.

When I chat with Denise in the opening months of 2023, ahead of a historic few months and Ireland’s World Cup voyage to Australia, it is at the start of what is anticipated to be one of the hallmark years of her footballing career.

She is now based in the United States, playing her club football for North Carolina Courage, and her time is naturally spent between Ireland and US, as she balances international and club commitments – making her 100th appearance in an Irish jersey in a friendly against the United States a few months ahead of the World Cup.

Whatever jersey she is wearing, be it for club or for country, you can be certain that Denise O’Sullivan will be giving it her absolute all, something which was obvious from an early age.

Denise O’Sullivan showed from the start that she had the hunger to succeed in the game of football. Growing up in Knocknaheeny, on the Northside of Cork City, she was introduced to football as a youngster, and watched her brother, John Paul represent Ireland at youth level.

Like others, "playing with the boys," was Denise’s response when I asked what were her earliest memories of playing football.

Street football... they were my best memories from five and six years old. Playing street football with the boys... all day, every day.

"I would go out after school and I would hear my mom call me in at 8pm, for dinner... that is how long I would be out playing. I didn’t care about anything else. Nothing else mattered at that time, it was just out playing football."

On the international scene, O’Sullivan made a mark from an early stage and the initial indicators were that Ireland had a gifted footballing gem within their ranks.

When asked what would be her career highlights with Ireland, O’Sullivan responds citing her debut to begin with. "Scoring two goals against Wales, in a 2-0 win, that was definitely a great memory, putting on the jersey for the first time and contributing to the team.

"I think the whole equal pay deal was really huge. I think that was a massive highlight because of those girls who came before us, who helped get us that deal. I think that was the most important thing. They really, really helped, the Emma Byrnes and the Stephanie Roches.

"The Scotland game, for sure, was probably the biggest one. It was a night that I will never forget. It was unbelievable to have that feeling qualifying for the World Cup."

MILESTONE

Her 100th cap for Ireland came in Austin, Texas, as the Girls in Green faced off against the United States in a warm-up friendly in April 2023.

From chatting with her for only 30 minutes, it becomes clear that football brings immense enjoyment to the life of Denise O’Sullivan.

"I absolutely love the game. It is just unbelievable. It makes me happy and I think that is the main thing. I also think about the people that I meet everywhere I go from team to team... the relationships that I build with these people. That is the most important thing for me, I think... the friendships that I create along the way. I have them forever."

When we chatted in January of 2023, Denise was plying her trade with North Carolina Courage.

“‘North Carolina Courage picked me up. Ever since then, that massively helped me as a player. 

The environment that I am part of every single day is world-class. I am surrounded by great players... and I am really able to look after myself here.

“The resources here are huge for me. So I have been really enjoying my time here. I joined the Courage in 2017 and now it is 2023. So I have been here a good few years with this team. It has been really enjoyable and I cannot wait to see what happens in the future."

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