Republic of Ireland 0-2 Wales
After a cultured performance against Italy in Florence, the Republic of Ireland were given a reality check on their own patch.
Eileen Gleeson's charges suffered their first defeat of the new regime - their last defeat was a 2-1 loss to Canada at the World Cup - against a ferociously hungry and well-drilled Wales at Tallaght Stadium.
There’s no need to push the panic button just yet. Gleeson has plenty of credit in the bank after overseeing a seven-game unbeaten stretch, and the absence of Denise O’Sullivan cannot be underestimated.
But the nature of this loss will lead to a painful inquest ahead of April’s Euro 2025 qualifiers.
Wales are ranked 32nd in the world, eight places below Ireland, and yet they looked levels above their hosts in a devastating first half, Jess Fishlock and Lily Woodham goals leaving two up inside the first 20 minutes.
It could have been more.
Ireland did improve on the turnaround, with Jess Ziu a bright spark throughout. But they’ll know serious improvement is required if they are to seriously challenge the big guns over the course of the spring and early summer.
Having impressed in last Friday evening’s draw with Italy, Ireland made a few tweaks to both the lineup and the approach. Amber Barrett, Leanne Kiernan and Diane Caldwell (a late replacement for Niamh Fahey who aggravated her quad in the warm-up) slotted into a fluid 4-2-3-1 formation in front of a crowd of over 8,218 (a record for a women’s international in Tallaght).
However in a chaotic opening half, it simply didn’t work.
The visitors could have been four up inside a horribly disjointed opening 10 minutes, with Ireland looking confused by their own approach.
First, Rhiannon Roberts’ cross caused panic, with Rachel Rowe blazing a half-volley miles wide from inside the box. Then a full-stretch Cailtin Hayes had to glance away Fishlock’s wicked cross from the left.
Wales hit the front
The pressure told from the subsequent corner, as Gemma Evans’ header was bravely blocked by Courtney Brosnan, before Hayley Ladd squared the loose ball for Fishlock to thump home.
Ireland were shellshocked. Elise Hughes should have done better when she guided a free header over the bar after another set-piece exposed ragged home organisation.
Wales poured through cracks in the Irish rearguard – their play vibrant and quick. In contrast, Gleeson’s charges were hesitant, sloppy and way off-key.
Most of Ireland’s joy in a madly open first half came down their left, with McCabe and Kiernan occasionally combining well. Barrett buzzed around with typical industry and almost got the goal she craved when Hayes’ header fell to her in the box; the Donegal striker lashed in an effort that Olivia Clark superbly batted away.
Wales punished that miss with a brilliantly taken second on 22 minutes, as a cross from the right skittled past wrong-footed Irish defenders towards left-back Lily Woodham, who steered home a rising drive.
Lead extended
It was hard to decipher whether the gasps around the ground were in admiration or disbelief. It’s a rare sight indeed to see this Irish side being picked apart as brutally as they were in that first half-hour.
Crystal Palace forward Hughes led the line with such authority that even the usually peerless Hayes looked flustered. Hughes constantly fed Fishlock and Rowe, the pacy pair galloping up the flanks to offer intelligent support.
The Girls in Green looked lost.
A disappointing first 45 was summed up by Kiernan completely fresh-airing a golden chance after great work from Jess Ziu down the right side of the area. Megan Connolly pounced on the breaking ball, and then passed it straight to a Welsh player.
Gleeson made a triple change at the break: Louise Quinn, Kyra Carusa and new recruit Emily Murphy came in for Caldwell, Kiernan and Barrett.
Switching to a three at the back, allowing McCabe to push higher up the left, Ireland did at least look more comfortable.
A smashing Connolly corner was almost glanced home by Carusa; while moments later, Murphy latched on to McCabe’s centre, tumbling to the deck under heavy pressure. Her cries for a penalty were waved away by Danish referee Frida Mia Klarlund.
Quinn managed to keep a lid on Hughes much more effectively but the excellent No 15 still threatened any time she was adequately serviced – a daisy-cutter stinging Brosnan’s palms after Wales had weathered some Irish pressure.
The game drifted into scrappiness as the visitors extinguished Irish efforts to build pressure.
Murphy’s wayward shot arrowed onto Quinn’s head, the effort spinning back towards where it came from. It summed up the feeling of everything being skewed; nothing gelled, nothing came easy.
This was interim manager Jon Grey’s final game in charge of Cymru. On Monday, the Welsh FA confirmed that Canadian Rhian Wilkinson would succeed the highly rated Gemma Grainger, who left to take the Norway job in January.
Wilkinson was in Tallaght to watch her new team and will be more than happy with what she’s inheriting.
Gleeson must now make sure this humbling night at the office is an anomaly and not a symptom of cracks that will be even more ruthlessly punished against the elite opposition Ireland will be pitted against when the qualifiers draw takes place in Nyon next Tuesday.
Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Heather Payne, Diane Caldwell (Louise Quinn HT), Caitlin Hayes, Katie McCabe (capt, Izzy Atkinson 73); Jess Ziu, Megan Connolly, Ruesha Littlejohn, Jessie Stapleton (Lily Agg 88); Leanne Kiernan (Emily Murphy HT), Amber Barrett (Kyra Carusa HT)
Wales: Olivia Clark; Rhiannon Roberts (Charlotte Estcourt 64), Hayley Ladd, Gemma Evans; Josephine Green, Angharad James (Ceri Holland 64), Sophie Ingle (capt), Lily Woodham (Ella Powell 64); Jessica Fishlock (Lois Joel 81), Rachel Rowe (Carrie Jones 72), Elise Hughes (Kayleigh Barton 81)
Referee: Frida Mia Klarlund (Denmark)
Attendance: 8,218
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