Wisconsin Soccer Central

Last March, Shannon Smyth (Mequon/Milwaukee DSHA) was in Portugal for the Algarve Cup.

This year, the Republic of Ireland international is on an island in the Mediterranean Sea playing in the Cyprus Cup.

Ireland opens the 12-team tournament Wednesday against Northern Ireland in Larnaca, then faces South Africa on Friday and South Korea next Monday before a placement match on March 13. Canada, England and the Netherlands are among the other teams at the event.

The 25-year-old Smyth has earned 18 caps for Ireland, which is 34th in the FIFA Women's World Rankings and is gearing up for 2015 Women's World Cup qualifiers that start in September. The team has never qualified for a major tournament.

"We have previously gone to the Algarve Cup so this is a new departure for us and we are really looking forward to it, especially as we are facing the likes of South Korea and South Africa which would be new opposition for us," Republic of Ireland coach Sue Ronan said in a news release. "The time we spend together in Cyprus is going to be important for us as we prepare for the start of the World Cup qualifiers."

Smyth, who was born in Milwaukee but has dual citizenship because her father is Irish, plays professionally for Amazon Grimstad in Norway's Toppserien – their 2013 season is scheduled to start on April 13.