Ireland's Amber Barrett hoping for divine World Cup intervention as mass is moved
Ireland striker Barrett fired her country into their first major finals with her play-off goal against Scotland, and that left Father Stephen Gorman to reschedule mass in Barrett's home town of Milford in County Donegal so that parishioners will be home in time to watch.
"They have moved mass to earlier on Thursday so they can accommodate the 12:00 CET kick-off, so that says it all," Barrett told reporters in Sydney before cheekily suggesting that the Irish might get some divine help against co-hosts Australia.
"My mum was saying I had a shout-out at mass (last Sunday too), so I think I have officially made it," Barrett added.
She is expected to be on the bench for Vera Pauw's side in front of a sold-out crowd at Stadium Australia in Sydney, but she believes that she can make a difference if she is called upon.
"I have said it a million times before - I just always believe if I get a chance, I'm going to score," she said.
Ireland take on Australia, Canada and Nigeria in Group B, with the top two sides going through to the knockout stage.