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Ireland coast into play-off final with routine win

Updated / Tuesday, 29 Oct 2024 23:10
Julie-Ann Russell (far right) celebrates her goal in Tallaght
Julie-Ann Russell (far right) celebrates her goal in Tallaght

Republic of Ireland win 9-0 on aggregate

The Republic of Ireland coasted into the Euro 2025 play-off final with a routine defeat of a limited, but doggedly committed Georgia at Tallaght Stadium.

Julie-Ann Russell and Kyra Carusa had the Girls in Green two goals to the good by half-time, with Katie McCabe drilling home a third to ensure the vast majority of the 8,745 in attendance went home happy.

It wasn't a vintage performance by any means. Eileen Gleeson's charges were expected to rain in the goals against a team they had beaten 6-0 in Tbilisi last Friday night.

It didn't happen, but ultimately they got the job done with loads to spare.

Ireland can dust themselves down now and look forward to a massive two-legged showdown against Wales in November/December with a precious ticket to Switzerland up for grabs.

Gleeson didn't overly tinker with the XI that started in Tbilisi. Marissa Sheva and Jessie Stapleton came in for Tyler Toland and Lily Agg, while goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan returned having served a one-game ban.

The noises from the Ireland camp over the last few days suggested they wanted to put on a show in Tallaght, and they certainly started with intent.

There was less than three minutes on the clock when the ball skidded off Carusa's midriff and broke kindly in the box for Sheva, who thumped in a strike that visiting keeper Tatia Gabunia batted away. Russell had stayed on the move and was well placed to slam home the rebound.

Gleeson stationed McCabe centrally ahead of Sheva and Denise O’Sullivan with Russell on the left. That quartet moved like a carousel in the opening exchanges, the Georgians chasing shadows under the lights.

Abbie Larkin was sprightly too. Her twinkle-toed wing play had Georgia hacking away loose ends as the Girls in Green tugged at the seams of their opponents’ strained shape.

Not that Georgia came here to simply admire the Girls in Green’s capabilities. They were physical; overly so at times. Russell was brutally hacked down by Irina Khaburdzania after gliding past the 24-year-old on the left flank, who got booked for her troubles. Indeed there was a spiky edge to proceedings throughout.

The game began to sag as Ireland's early creative spark dimmed, but in the 32nd minute they stitched together a terrific move to double their lead.

Anna Patten punched a ball through for Stapleton who flicked a super first-time pass into the path of Carusa. The striker lifted home an emphatic finish that was passionately celebrated by players and coaching staff alike. A great Irish goal.

Two minutes later, the hosts were handed a golden opportunity to make it 3-0. Mariam Kalandadze clumsily bundled over Carusa to concede a penalty, but McCabe skied it, drawing gasps of disbelief from the partisan crowd.

Just before the break Stapleton whacked in a crisp drive that cannoned off Gabunia and span towards Russell. This time her finish lacked composure, a wild lash that curled wide.

Gleeson had the luxury of bringing less experienced talent into a low-pressure situation but resisted doing so at half-time, with Lily Agg for Mannion the sole change. Stapleton dropped into centre-half.

Ireland spun nice patterns of passing as they tried to further unlock the stubbornly deep Georgian resistance.

There were flickers of quality. Larkin and O'Sullivan combined well to feed McCabe, who tumbled over the flailing Ana Cheminava; the neat and tidy Sheva twinned industry with good vision.

Generally though, Ireland's quality of play deteriorated as the contest wore on.

It was like the Keystone Cops in Georgia's penalty box at times. Despite being 8-0 down on aggregate, they would not be coaxed from their own half and with so many players defending around the penalty box, limbs and bodies were flying everywhere.

In the 55th minute Georgia cracked again. O'Sullivan popped a short corner to McCabe, who rifled a low finish past the diving Gabunia.

That was the cue for Gleeson to changes things up. Izzy Atkinson and Heather Payne entered the fray, but the substitions hurt Irish rhythm, and they ruffled by Georgia's considerable aggression in the tackle. This, of course, coming from a side who were 9-0 down in the tie.

In some ways it was admirable, a proud outfit scrapping to the end.

Ireland could have done more to trouble them - only subsitutue Ellen Molloy threatened in the closing stages with a clean half-volley that whizzed a yard over the bar.

But by the end, everyone seemed happy to just play this one out, the hosts looking ahead to the business end of the play-offs, and Georgia taking heart from a respectable scoreline in Dublin.

Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Aoife Mannion (Lily Agg HT), Caitlin Hayes, Anna Patten; Abbie Larkin (Izzy Atkinson 58), Jessie Stapleton, Marissa Sheva, Denise O’Sullivan, Julie Ann Russell (Ellen Molloy 83); Katie McCabe (capt, Leanne Kiernan 72), Kyra Carusa (Heather Payne 58)

Georgia: Tatia Gabunia; Gvantsa Kadagishvili, Salome Gasviani, Mariam Kalandadze, Nino Chkhartishvili; Sopiko Narsia, Nino Bukhrikidze, Natia Danelia; Irina Khaburdzania (Tinatin Ambalia 60), Teona Bakradze (Maiko Bebia 60), Ana Cheminava (capt, Nino Pasikashvili 88))

Referee: Katalin Kulcsar (Hungary)

Attendance: 8,745

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