McCabe and O'Sullivan to feature in Cork - Ward

What the report says

Republic of Ireland manager Carla Ward has confirmed that Katie McCabe and Denise O’Sullivan will be involved in the second leg of the team’s Women’s World Cup play-off against Kazakhstan in Cork. Ireland take an 8-0 lead into the match after a dominant first-leg win in Astana, where McCabe was suspended and O’Sullivan stayed at home because the game was played on an artificial surface.

Ward said both experienced players will return at Páirc Uí Chaoimh as Ireland look to finish the tie in strong fashion and keep building momentum before a likely play-off final against Belgium or Poland. The manager also highlighted the strength of the squad’s depth, pointing to the impact of players such as Jamie Finn and others who stepped in for the first leg and helped produce the lopsided result.

O’Sullivan, a Cork native, said she enjoys playing in front of local supporters and described the stadium atmosphere as a special one for the team. She is also close to a major international milestone, with the possibility of moving within one cap of Emma Byrne’s Ireland appearance record if she features. More broadly, the fixture matters because Ireland are aiming to reach back-to-back Women’s World Cups and continue a strong run of results at the Cork venue.