Erin McLaughlin eager to keep on the upward curve

Erin McLaughlin says she has ‘huge ambitions’ to become a professional footballer.

The Culdaff woman made her second Republic of Ireland senior appearance in Friday’s 5-1 Nations League win over Albania at Tallaght Stadium.

This season, the 20-year-old Culdaff woman won the Women’s Premier League with Peamount United and was included in the Irish squad for a pre-World Cup training camp.

McLaughlin, who is studying to become a teacher, has designs on continuing her upward trajectory.

"I have huge ambitions to go pro," McLaughlin - who is this evening expected to see game time against Albania in Shkoder - said.

"I always have had a dream of going professional and playing in England and that hasn't changed.

"But for the minute, the plan is to get my degree first, secure that and take it from there, and that is what I am sticking to.

"Everyone in the squad is focusing on Euro 2025. We’re all pushing hard for places and qualifying begins here, trying to qualify for another tournament."

McLaughlin wants to play her part in taking Ireland to those Euro 2025 finals.

First, Ireland could win promotion in the Nations League. McLaughlin is eager to keep learning from Ireland’s history makers.

She said:  "Being around that atmosphere, the environment of a professional set-up... I suppose there are other young girls looking on at you and you realise you can be a role model for them as well.

"So you’re taking all that in your stride and into your game, bringing into it what you can do at training. Just pushing yourself as hard as you can go, always being at the top of your game."

McLaughlin and Peamount defied the odds to win a fourth Women’s Premier League crown this year.

The former Culdaff and Sion Swifts player said: "It's my first medal.

"This was the maddest pre-season I was involved in. There was a lot going on between clubs, different players switching and swapping clubs and not just the top clubs.

"Peamount came in as underdogs. Nobody expected much from us and that suited us down to the ground. We just went in and trained so hard, ending up coming up on top which was amazing.”