Eileen Gleeson remains convinced her Republic of Ireland squad will emerge from a brutally tough Euro 2025 qualifier campaign a stronger outfit after they fell to a gut-wrenching late loss against Sweden on Tuesday evening.
The Girls in Green produced a dilligent and stout defensive performance to largely frustrate the world No 6-ranked Swedes, but Magdalena Eriksson's soft goal six minutes from time denied them a point.
Ireland have now lost all four of their League A Group A3 games having also been beaten by England and France.
Hopes of finishing in the top two to earn automatic qualification for the Euros were always slim, but Gleeson's charges are guaranteed a place in the play-offs regardless, and the head coach was keen to focus on the positives in the aftermath of their latest defeat.
"I'm incredibly disappointed," Gleeson told RTÉ Sport's Tony O'Donoghuie.
"I thought the girls put in a serious shift. I did think we were going to get a point over the line so it's a real blow to concede at that time.
"Three days after playing them (in Dublin), to get to the 84th minute (without conceding) it's a real kick in the teeth.
"There were times we were severely overloaded on our left side, and we had to keep adjusting to that. We knew they liked to play down that right but I thought the girls for the most part coped with it well, and communicated and shifted. We'd tired legs."
Gleeson confirmed Louise Quinn was withdrawn just before half-time due to "fatigue", adding: "We saw they were targeting her as well. We had to make the change."
Anna Patten slotted into the back line and acquitted herself well alongside Aoife Mannion, Katie McCabe and the outstanding Caitlin Hayes.
Jess Ziu (player of the match), Jessie Stapleton and Abbie Larkin all featured brightly in Stockholm too, with Gleeson taking great satisfaction in how the younger players are developing.
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Sweden take the lead with seven minutes to go, Eriksson getting a touch from Andersson's corner
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"It's huge," she added. "You've got Jess, you've got Abbie coming on, you've Jess Stapleton coming on. They're going toe to toe with the best in the world.
"We didn't come away with anything and we are beyond disappointed with that but it's a very transitional period for those young players coming in and then coming up against the best in the world, so what an experience.
"But they are starting to develop and learn and the more we can stay in the game and then eventually get the points out of it, that is where we need to be.
"I am proud of the girls. I'm proud of the work rate and I'm proud of the players who came off the bench and the young players coming through. It was 100% comitment and you can't really ask for any more."
