Ireland 0-1 Hungary
The Republic of Ireland's Women’s National Team lost out to Hungary in their third game of the Cyprus Cup despite creating the bulk of the chances.
Ireland dominated from the start but a 76th minute goal from a long range free kick from Viktoria Szabo proved to be decisive.
The Irish had a chance to earn a share of the spoils three minutes later when they were awarded a penalty after Katie McCabe was brought down by the keeper.
However, birthday girl Meghan Connolly blasted the spot kick over the bar.
Having picked up just one point in their three games, Ireland will now play Euro 2017 opponents Finland in the seventh place play-off on Wednesday.
Manager Sue Ronan made four changes from the side that started the 1-1 draw with Italy on Friday with Emma Byrne, Méabh De Búrca, Rachel Graham and Katie McCabe coming in for Niamh Reid-Burke, Sophie Perry, Niamh Fahey and Diane Caldwell.
It took Ireland some time to settle into the game but once they got moving they soon started creating chances and after 11 minutes Rachel Graham fired just over from outside the box after being teed up by Connolly.
Ruesha Littlejohn then failed to connect properly with a pass from McCabe while Julie-Ann Russell curled a shot past the far post after a short corner with Connolly.
Hungary had one good chance in the first half when a 41st minute free kick by Alexandra Szarvas slid past Emma Byrne’s left hand post.
The second half was completely dominated by Ireland with half-time substitute Denise O'Sullivan proving a major threat and defensive midfielder Karen Duggan ensuring the Hungarians were pinned into their own half for long periods.
After 47 minutes O’Sullivan forced Hungarian goalkeeper Sxocs Reka into the save of the match while Aine O’Gorman, Littlejohn and McCabe all had efforts that went close.
Disaster struck for Ireland in the 76th minute when, in their first attack of the half, Hungary scored.
A deep free kick from Szabo appeared to be head for the safety of Byrne’s hands when the ball spun out of her grasp and into the empty net to give the Hungarians a shock lead.
Minutes later they almost extended their lead but Byrne produced a great bock to deny Henrietta Csiszar as she bore down on goal.
The Irish were thrown a lifeline in the 79th minute when McCabe was taken down by a reckless challenge from the goalkeeper.
However while Connolly sent Reka the wrong way, she fired her shot over the crossbar from the penalty spot.
Despite laying siege to the Hungarian goal for the remainder of the game, Ireland were unable to force an equaliser with Reka saving shots from O’Gorman and Connolly late on as the Hungarians held on for victory.
Wexford Youths Claire O’Riordan made her senior international debut when she was introduced as a substitute late in the game.
After the game Ronan admitted it was hard to explain how her side had failed to get anything out of a game they had emphatically dominated.
"Some of our attacking play was excellent tonight and I can't fault any of my players for their work-rate and energy, but once again it was a case of not taking any of the numerous chances we created and then conceding a soft goal. The players are very disappointed right now, but we'll regroup tomorrow and take the positives from tonight, of which there were many, into our next game." said Ronan.
