McFerran’s delight at first Ireland cap

The talented goalkeeper made her debut as a second-half substitute in a 3-2 defeat to Spain in Terassa earlier this month.

It’s a remarkable achievement for the 18-year-old who said she was thrilled to be involved with the team at such a young age.

“When I got the call to say I was going to be part of the squad it was unbelievable; I wasn’t expecting it at all,” she said. “I trained with the team a few times during the summer but to get the call-up, it’s something I just can’t explain. Every athlete aspires to play for their country but to do it at such a young age is just an unbelievable feeling.”

McFerran was one of a batch of new faces called up to Darren Smith’s panel, something she says made it easier for her to integrate. However, she did admit to some serious pre-match nerves before her first appearance.

“Having the girls there meant we could be comfortable around each other and play our own game. But when I knew I was actually going to take part I was so nervous. Once I got my warm-up done and got the first five minutes over, I started to settle into the game and calmed down.”

She added: “Playing at Larne, Randalstown and with school has helped me to get to where I am. Now I just want to keep going forward and try and get my face in more often. My ultimate is to get that number-one spot, but that will take years of practice. Hopefully, it will come.”