Women's football: Stephanie Roche ready for FIFA gathering
Monday 12 January 2015 06:52, UK
Stephanie Roche is relishing the chance to rub shoulders with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at Monday's FIFA Ballon d'Or gala.
The Republic of Ireland women's international is competing with World Cup goals from Robin van Persie and James Rodriguez for the Puskas Award, presented to the scorer of the best goal in a year of world football.
Roche's volleyed goal for Peamount United against Wexford Youths Women became an internet sensation and she has become the first woman to feature on the final shortlist. The winner will be decided by a public vote.
"The first I heard of it was through Twitter," Roche said. "I got a tweet from FIFA to say my name was in the top 10 for the Puskas Award and it was a surprise. That's how it happened - it was nothing too official until I got to the top three and they got in touch with the Football Association of Ireland and made contact with me."
To prove the goal was not a once-in-a-lifetime effort, she repeated the trick during her time playing for ASPTT Albi in France.
Roche said: "They asked me after training whether I'd try to replicate it and thankfully enough I was able to do it. I pulled it off a couple of times and people realised it wasn't a fluke, which was nice. I did it on my second go.
"I'm quite excited about the ceremony now. I haven't had much time to think about it over the last few months, I've just been doing all I can to promote the goal.
"Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are both fantastic footballers and playing at a higher level than me. But to be chosen ahead of their goals is unbelievable."
Ronaldo, Messi and Germany's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer are competing for the FIFA Ballon d'Or award, while either Brazil's Marta, Germany's Nadine Kessler or America's Abby Wambach will claim the FIFA Women's World Player of the Year prize.
