8.35am Sports News

Now, Darren Farrell is back again with the Sports News. And Darren, a big day for the Irish woman.

Yeah, massive day. Noon kick-off for Republic of Ireland against Kazakhstan. And I know, Sarah, you're already planning your holidays around Brazil next summer. And you left the green jersey on. Are we going

through the programme from Copacabana

or Ipanema?

What do you reckon? Both.

Yeah, good luck with that. Massive day for the Irish women today. So this is the semifinal playoff and Kazakhstan ranked 98th in the world. So we're hoping we can progress. And then we're going to also be keeping an eye on a game later tonight. So it's Belgium and Poland. They meet so the two winners will play for a place in Brazil in those finals. So the match live at noon, RTE2 and the RTE player as well. And Sinead Hopcroft in line to make a spectacular debut perhaps later today. English born, big Irish background. Sinead is spelt S-H-A-N-A-D-E. She plays for Crystal Palace and is a big surprise call-up at the age of 29, her birthday, only last Sunday. Now, she's been there in the mix, a lot of people talking about her a long time, but she's finally getting her chance and she might even play tonight, or tonight, this afternoon, with the number of injury problems and suspensions. Tony O'Donoghue has been talking to her and she wants to make a big impact.

Sinead Shireen Hopcroft.

That's it. That's a great

name. And it's spelled differently, Sinead, but it's pronounced in the Irish Sinead, is that right?

Yeah, it's Sinead,

yeah. So who gave you the name Sinead?

My dad loved the name. My mum loved it too because it's Irish, but my mum wanted to change the spelling. She's English, so she spelt it as you say it.

Yeah.

Well, so she says.

And you've got connections to County Sligo, to Tubbercurry is where your granny is from, yeah?

Yeah, Tubbercurry is where my gran's from and all that side of the family, they're all still over there.

And this Ireland squad that you've just joined, I mean, you are four games away from possibly a World Cup final appearance.

Yeah.

How does that feel?

Yeah, no, it feels magical, really. But you can also feel with, like, the team and stuff, like, they have this, they feel special. So it's really nice to, you know, come in and feel a part of that. And they've all welcomed me in. So it just, it does feel very nice.

Did you have to sing a song? Was there an initiation ceremony?

Not yet. And I'm not going to say anything about it either, because I'm hoping I get away with it. I know you won't.

Have you a song ready?

I have a song ready. I have a karaoke song.

Well, you're in a karaoke city.

A little bit of Amy Winehouse. Okay, very

good. I'm looking forward to hearing the stories about that then.

Let's hope that that song went well for her last night. Good luck to them. Noon. Remember, it's noon. A lot earlier time today and live on the RTE. player on RTE2 television as well. In the SSE or Tricity League Premier Division last night, Shamrock Rovers beat Drogheda 3-1. So that result sees Rovers return to the top of the table. The first of the Club R and GFA Cup semi-finals takes place tonight. It's Bohemians against Waterford at Daly Mount, 7.45. This one also on RTE2 and