Republic of Ireland midfielder Denise O’Sullivan has reflected on an “unbelievable” first taste of World Cup football and admitted adrenaline meant she felt no pain during Thursday’s defeat to Australia. O’Sullivan had been a doubt for their Group B opener after she suffered a soft tissue and bone bruise injury during last week’s warm-up match with Colombia that was cancelled after only 20 minutes. North Carolina captain O’Sullivan was able to recover in time to play the whole match in front of a record crowd of 75,784 at Stadium Australia and she has talked up the vocal support of the Irish fans even before the narrow 1-0 loss. “It was sore in the game, but the medical team done a few things to make sure I wasn’t in that much pain. I think honestly the adrenaline was so high I didn’t feel anything,” O’Sullivan told RTE after Ireland’s major tournament debut. “It was unbelievable. I can’t even describe it. We were in the tunnel waiting to walk out and we could already hear the Irish fans. “We were just all smiling and looking at each other. It was a moment I will never forget and then walking out. “Even to do the warm-up, they started singing right away and that’s all you could hear in the stadium, Irish fans. We definitely have the best fans in the world. It was an unbelievable experience for our opening game.” A 52nd-minute penalty from Australia’s stand-in captain Steph Catley consigned Ireland to an opening defeat, but there were plenty of positives for Vera Pauw’s side who play Olympic champions Canada next on Wednesday in Perth. Eighteen-year-old Abbie Larkin was a bright note for the Girls in Green and she has been backed to further shine. O’Sullivan said of Larkin: “Honestly, no fear. She is a little gem. I have been saying it in training leading up to this game, she is a different player. “She’s been excellent and coming into the game, it is a lot of pressure for an 18-year-old, your first World Cup game, but she took it in her stride. She came on and was absolutely fantastic so I am really happy for her.” When O’Sullivan broke through as a teenager in 2011, the state of Irish football was markedly differently but the 29-year-old is delighted with their progress and to finally make her major tournament debut with so many long-serving team-mates. It was unbelievable. I can't even describe it. We were in the tunnel waiting to walk out and we could already hear the Irish fans. Republic of Ireland midfielder Denise O'Sullivan She added: “It was tough back then. I don’t think we had many resources and facilities or investment as we do right now. “I would have dreamed to be at a World Cup when I was 18-years-old but it just wasn’t possible back then. “Always in the back of my mind I did have that belief that some day I would make it to a World Cup and I am just really grateful I am here with this group of players. Some of them I have been playing with for 10 plus years and it is great to be on this journey with them.”

Ana Navarro is still reminiscing about her summer vacation in Greece and Turkey

Lorincz, a 58-year-old White woman, killed her Black neighbor, Ajike 'AJ' Owens, 35, following a longstanding dispute over neighborhood children

Tensions had recently risen in Gaza - but this attack was unexpected on a Jewish holiday.

Police in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir say government forces have killed five suspected militants in a gunbattle

The U.S. Marines say men and women are now fully integrated in boot camp

Pete Alonso and the Mets have been on the wrong side of Karma ever since Alonso yelled the words 'throw it again!' towards the Braves Bryce Elder.Trash talk, bat flips, stare downs and an occasional taunt are all part of the new age of baseball. These things can be seen in every level ...

Here's a breakdown of what to expect from Call of Duty in 2023.

Oil headed for the biggest weekly drop since March as worries over the global economy clouded the demand

By Matt Tracy Top-rated companies were tapping the U.S. debt markets on Tuesday, in a widely anticipated post-Labor

Gerhard Struber leaves New York Red Bulls after mutually agreeing to part ways with the club. Assistant coach Bernd Eibler will also leave as Troy Lesesne takes over.

Kenya is weighing selling sovereign green bonds and debt-for-nature swap deals to fund climate projects, President William Ruto