Shannon Smyth has already played two 45 minute halves for the Girls in Green, who are on a 10 week training camp in the United States preparing for its important upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
So far, the trip has gone exceptionally well for Ireland, which has beaten Women's Professional League outfit Chicago Reds Stars, FC Indiana of the W-League, and Chicago Breeze. After the Louisville game, Ireland will finish out against Notre Dame on August 11.
Smyth, whose father was born and raised in the southside Dublin town of Dun Laoghaire, said she is greatly looking forward to taking on her old team mates. That includes senior Lindsay Boling who has been helping Smyth with coaching duties at Net-Surfers.
"I'm very excited to be back and playing at Cardinal Park," said the diminutive 5'3" forward. "U of L has treated me like family and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to be back here with my Irish team mates."
She added that Karen Ferguson-Dayes, entering her 10th season as Cardinal coach, has been a major support in her aspirations to play for Ireland.
“Karen has prepared me well over the past four years to progress to the international, and hopefully professional, level,” she said.
"I'm currently exploring the best option to sign a professional contract in Europe. I'm not ready to hang up the boots yet, so we'll see what transpires for me over the next year as I have been blessed with the opportunity and support from my family and coaches to continue to play."
Ireland’s goal is to be in tip-top shape for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Switzerland, Kazakhstan and Russia in September and October, and Smyth’s objective is to be part of the 18 strong squad which will face them. The roster currently stands at 25 plus.
"All players here are quality and bring different strengths, so at the end of the day it is a matter of the right combination of players,” said Smyth. “I'm honored to be here training for my country alongside the best team mates and coaches Ireland offers. I'm learning a lot and couldn't ask for better teammates to train with everyday.”
Shannon Smyth (left) and Lindsay Boling spent the spring season coaching southern Indiana’s Net-Surfers while team mates at University of Louisville. This Saturday, the pair will be on opposing teams when Smyth kits out for Ireland, who will be taking on Boling and the Cardinals in Louisville.
As well as playing out her final year at Louisville, Smyth has spent 2009 coaching Net-Surfers’ U17 girls, along with U of L's Lindsay Boling.
"The girls and their parents were always supportive of their daughters and my development plan for them," she said. "I hope they learned as much from me as I did from them."
Also helping her development as a player has been her time with FC Indiana (11-1-2), one of the top women’s soccer teams in the country, which recently fell 2-1 Ottawa Fury in the W-League Central Conference Championship game.
“FC Indiana was a great experience for me,” she said. “I came in toward the end of their season and couldn't have asked for a better training environment. Shek Borkowski and his coaching staff are second to none and the variety of players from such diverse backgrounds offered so much creativity and inspiration.”
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