DENIAL QUINN

Legend Louise rejects talk of a leadership vacuum in Irish squad

- BY MARK McCADDEN

LOUISE QUINN says there are enough leaders in the Ireland dressing room to carry the country through the World Cup qualifiers next year.

Quinn has become the latest senior star to hang up her boots. She made her 122nd and final appearance for Ireland in Tuesday night's 1-0 win against Slovenia at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Along with Niamh Fahey, Diane Caldwell and Julie-Ann Russell, that's a combined 395 caps worth of experience lost to head coach Carla Ward.

But with a Nations League promotion/relegation play-off to come in October, and a World Cup qualification campaign next year, Quinn is confident that the squad is in a healthy place.

"Everyone has a leadership style in different ways," she said.

"You've got Courtney Brosnan, who is so commanding on the pitch and then the nicest human you are ever going to meet off it.

"You need a friendly face that you can just go and chat to, but then you know when you go on the pitch with her that someone has taken over her body, she's on a different level.

"There are loads of different people like that, so I'm not worried.