Courtney Brosnan reckons she could have a 20-strong fan-club heading to Australia to support the Girls in Green.
The goalkeeper, whose penalty save in last October’s play-off paved the way for World Cup qualification, last night picked up the Senior Women’s International Player of the Year at the FAI Awards in the Mansion House.
Brosnan says family from both sides of the Atlantic will make their way to Australia for next month’s tournament.
The New Jersey-born netminder has family in Roscommon and Kerry.
Asked who would be travelling Down Under, she said: “My parents, sisters, some cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents also. I’ve got a big squad.
“It’s a combination of the two (Irish and US-based), and I’ve some cousins who live out in Australia already, so it’s easy for them.”
Brosnan hopes to sort some of her family out with tickets, but has encouraged her relatives to snap up as many as possible through FIFA.
“I made them sign up for the lottery online because I wasn’t sure how many we would get,” she said.
“We’ll get some for them, they’ll sign up online so hopefully we’ll be covered. I think they are (sorted).”
Brosnan, meanwhile, was thrilled to win the Player of the Year award ahead of teammates Katie McCabe and Louise Quinn.
“It’s unbelievable obviously. It’s a really proud moment for me and my family and I’m just happy and grateful to be able to accept the award,” she said.
Her penalty save early in the play-off against Scotland wasn’t her only big moment during the qualification campaign.
Brosnan put in the display of her life in the famous 1-1 draw away to Sweden.
That was one of just four goals conceded in nine qualifiers, including the play-off.
Asked if she often watched the penalty save back, she replied: “The penalty? Not too much.
“Sometimes it pops up on my page or my friends bring it up so I’ve seen it a few times back, for sure.”
Brosnan was quick to spread the plaudits for her clean sheet record around the rest of the squad.
“It’s a combination of all the things,” she said. “When you strip it down, the basics are keep a clean sheet and try and score a goal and then obviously you’re trying to improve your play every game from there.
“For me, it’s so important to keep the clean sheets and keep the basics intact and I know that we’ll be able to build the performances and keep moving forward and get the results we want.”
