Ireland 0
England 2
ENGLAND SHOWED THEIR class, and Ireland their mettle, but Eileen Gleeson’s side remain empty-handed in their Euro 2025 qualifying Group of Death.
This was another spirited defensive performance against one of the world’s top teams, but early goals from Lauren James and Alex Greenwood saw Ireland come undone at the Aviva Stadium.
It could have been 3-0 inside the opening half hour, but for Greenwood’s missed second penalty.
32,742 fans — short of the record set against Northern Ireland last September — watched the first competitive meeting of the teams since 1987, but a major gulf remains between those sitting second and 25th in the world rankings.
Ireland produced a late onslaught against the European champions and World Cup finalists, and were unlucky not to score amidst a chaotic end-game.
Gleeson made two changes to her XI from Friday’s 1-0 defeat to France: she freshened up the midfield with Ruesha Littlejohn replacing Megan Connolly, while Lucy Quinn started ahead of Emily Murphy.
Katie McCabe reverted to left-wing-back in the established 5-4-1, with Quinn positioned ahead of her, and Aoife Mannion deepest on the right.
Sarina Wiegman, uncharacteristically, rang five changes. The most significant was deploying Hannah Hampton in goal ahead of Mary Earps, allegedly favouring her distribution. Euros winning captain Leah Williamson returned, while Jess Carter, Jess Park and Ella Toone also started in a 4-3-3.
While England dominated possession from the off, Ireland weren’t exactly immediately under siege as they faced their second top three team in four days.
Kyra Carusa chased shadows for most of the night, but won a corner in the second minute — Ireland had none in Metz. With McCabe standing over it, the crowd heaved, but her in-swinger nestled into Hampton’s arms.
They strung together a few breaks from there, with Denise O’Sullivan starting in much better form, but the final ball was often sloppy. Littlejohn and Lucy Quinn were the main culprits, and it grew more and more frustrating as counter-attacking opportunities were wasted.
Lauren Hemp dazzled, and had Mannion under pressure on Ireland’s right. It was from that side – but through no real fault of hers – that England’s first goal arrived in the 12th minute. Lucy Bronze evaded McCabe to get her head on a Keira Walsh delivery from deep, the ball ricocheted off Anna Patten, and the electric James fired home.
🇮🇪 0-1 🏴
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 9, 2024
Sloppy from Ireland defensively as England make the breakthrough courtesy of Lauren James
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England hadn’t exactly threatened up to that point, barring a tame Alessia Russo header, but six minutes later, it was 2-0.
Greenwood sent Courtney Brosnan the wrong way from the spot, after an overzealous Littlejohn was penalised for handling Jess Park’s shot.
🇮🇪 0-1 🏴
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 9, 2024
Ruesha Littlejohn is penalsied for handball inside the Irish penalty area in attempting to block Jess Park's shot
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On the half-hour mark, Greenwood was facing Brosnan down once more, this time following an unfortunate Louise Quinn handball. The Irish centurion pleaded her innocence, but it was a case of ball-to-hand after Russo met Hemp’s cross.
This time Greenwood opted to go to the right and her effort crashed off the post — followed by one of the biggest cheers of the night, a lift Ireland needed.
🇮🇪 0-2 🏴
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 9, 2024
Ireland concede a second penalty of the half as Louise Quinn is judged by the referee to have deliberatly handballed
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But England’s quality shone through. They nonchalantly played the ball around, giving passive Ireland a lesson in retaining possession. As half-time neared, James sent another shot in anger at Brosnan — stemming from a superb Williamson tackle on Carusa — while Barcelona star Walsh ran the show.
Gleeson opted against wholesale changes at the break. She swapped Megan Connolly for Littlejohn in an attempt to breathe new life into an overrun midfield, but didn’t switch formation immediately. Instead, Ireland slowly but surely crept higher.
The introduction of Megan Campbell and Leanne Kiernan brought a spark on the hour. Long-throw specialist Campbell unleashed her weapon immediately, and it did cause England problems, while Kiernan was lively and Carusa pressed Hampton to good effect.
But her race was run soon run, and England fired some warning shots. First, Brosnan had to be alert to deny Fran Kirby with a huge save. James robbed Patten as Ireland played out from the back and her cross eventually found her Chelsea team-mate via Beth Mead. Shortly after, Toone blazed over.
Ireland threatened down the home straight and should have had a goal, at least. A golden chance evaded them when they couldn’t successfully implement a free-kick routine from the training ground: McCabe found Louise Quinn out wide, who squared to Patten, who fresh-aired, and then Hayes, who was ahead of the ball and couldn’t get her feet right. The Celtic defender later headed straight at Hampton from a corner.
In typical fashion, Ireland threw the kitchen sink at it, with Quinn sent up top.
Their other standout opportunity down the home straight saw roles reversed from Friday night. McCabe obstructed a delayed Hampton kick-out and won the chase to shoot from a tight angle, but the English goalkeeper recovered to comfortably claim. Kiernan was a better option inside.
But that would be that.
England came through a nervy ending, aided by some trusty time economics, and Ireland were left frustrated once more.
An improved second half, but the gulf remains.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Courtney Brosnan; Aoife Mannion; Caitlin Hayes, Louise Quinn, Anna Patten; Katie McCabe; Lucy Quinn (Megan Campbell 61), Ruesha Littlejohn (Megan Connolly HT), Denise O’Sullivan, Heather Payne (Leanne Kiernan 61); Kyra Carusa (Emily Murphy 67).
ENGLAND: Hannah Hampton; Lucy Bronze, Leah Williamson, Alex Greenwood, Jess Carter; Jess Park (Fran Kirby 56), Keira Walsh, Ella Toone (Georgia Stanway 75); Lauren James (Chloe Kelly 86) Alessia Russo (Rachel Daly 86), Lauren Hemp (Beth Mead 56).
Referee: Lina Lehtovaara (Finland).
