Northern Ireland 1-6 Republic of Ireland
Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
The Republic of Ireland are one game away from finishing their Nations League campaign with a 100% record.
While Northern Ireland away is not an easy fixture, they will be confident of prevailing after winning the reverse game 3-0.
It is also expected to be interim boss Eileen Gleeson’s final game in charge, so she will be keen to finish an impressive stint on a high.
The North, meanwhile, will be hoping to triumph and secure second spot.
Should they lose, Hungary will pip them for second spot in the group if they overcome Albania at home in a match that kicks off at the same time as this one.
The Republic of Ireland team below sees two changes from the side that beat Hungary last week.
Jamie Finn and Lucy Quinn come into the team with Tyler Toland and Izzy Atkinson making way.
STARTING XI | N. Ireland v Ireland
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) December 5, 2023
Let’s finish this year strong 👊
KO at 6:00pm #COYGIG | #OUTBELIEVE pic.twitter.com/4OTUrUCA6O
And here is the Northern Ireland team for tonight…
⚽️ Here's how we start for tonight's match against @IrelandFootball WNT 🙌 #GAWA pic.twitter.com/dLRgc6zKTP
— Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) December 5, 2023
Who do you think will win?
Poll Results:
We’re underway…
5 mins: The Republic are dominating possession, with the North soaking up pressure.
No clear-cut chances yet.
8 mins: Decent period of pressure from Northern Ireland.
It ends with Holloway’s shot from distance landing on the roof of the net.
13 mins: Not too much noteworthy happening of late.
In recent minutes, Northern Ireland have their opponents pinned back into their half and are looking like a team that know only three points will do tonight.
19 mins: Still not a huge amount happening.
Though as I type, McCabe makes a surging run forward, but McKenna makes a good recovery tackle to put it out for a corner.
20 mins: Connolly puts in a dangerous-looking corner but Harvey-Clifford does well to claim it under pressure.
Moments later, a Finn cross goes straight into the goalkeeper’s arms.
The Republic have yet to really get going tonight.
25 mins: Worrying moment for both teams as McCabe and Hamilton go down injured.
It was an awkward collision with both players going for the loose ball.
It looks like they’ll be okay to continue.
28 mins: There are claims for a penalty as Payne’s cross is in the vicinity of McCarron’s arm.
Looking at the replay, it would have been a harsh call.
33 mins: Ireland have been keeping the ball better in recent minutes and stringing a few passes together.
Meanwhile, McCabe is down receiving treatment again following a late challenge by Caldwell, but the Arsenal star looks like she’ll be okay.
NORTHERN IRELAND 0-1 REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (LUCY QUINN 37 MINS)
NORTHERN IRELAND 0-2 REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (PAYNE 39)
Out of nowhere, the Republic score twice in quick succession.
Firstly, McCabe picks out Lucy Quinn with a superb pass and the Birmingham City attacker fires home from the edge of the area.
Moments later, Quinn turns provider, as her pinpoint cross is volleyed home by Payne from close range.
43 mins: Northern Ireland try to conjure a response.
Twice, Brosnan has to be alert to deal with dangerous crosses into the area.
Here’s a look at the first goal…
Lucy Quinn opens the scoring for the Republic of Ireland in Belfast.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 5, 2023
📺Watch https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7…
📻Listen https://t.co/6cFzxLzMuv
📱Follow https://t.co/I9IrVdIjjI pic.twitter.com/c6WWdsVIgt
And here’s a look at the second…
Goalscorer Lucy Quinn turns provider, as her cross into the box is volleyed home by an unmarked Heather Payne.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 5, 2023
📺Watch https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7…
📻Listen https://t.co/6cFzxLzMuv
📱Follow https://t.co/BaJZ5gyWOU pic.twitter.com/LLtRG4JZ4C
HALF-TIME: NORTHERN IRELAND 0-2 REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Elsewhere, it’s currently Hungary 4-0 Albania in the other game.
So barring a dramatic turnaround in either match, it looks like the Hungarians will secure second place in the group at Northern Ireland’s expense.
So it was scrappy and even enough game for a considerable portion of that half.
Yet the Republic were clinical when they needed to be and made their rivals pay for some sloppy defending.
Gleeson’s decision to bring in Lucy Quinn has certainly been vindicated, with the Birmingham star registering a goal and an assist in the opening 45.
Barring something dramatic and a much-improved performance from the hosts, the Republic look set to end 2023 on a high and complete an impressive 100% Nations League campaign.
The second half has begun…
NORTHERN IRELAND 0-3 REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (CARUSA 47)
That’s surely game, set and match.
McCabe plays a good ball in, McFadden slips and Carusa heads home for her fifth goal of this Nations League campaign.
NORTHERN IRELAND 0-4 REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (MCCABE 50)
McCabe makes it four to join Carusa on five goals for the campaign.
It’s a fine individual effort, with the Arsenal attacker going on a mazy run before curling home a superb right-footed effort from the edge of the area.
Here’s what the third goal looked like…
Kyra Carusa makes it 3-0 to the Republic of Ireland with a header.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 5, 2023
📺Watch https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7…
📻Listen https://t.co/6cFzxLzMuv
📱Follow https://t.co/BaJZ5gyWOU pic.twitter.com/yryj1Gvmyg
59 mins: There is much more of a swagger about the Republic’s play now that they are comfortably ahead.
Harvey-Clifford has just tipped over a powerful Payne strike from distance.
NORTHERN IRELAND 0-5 REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (LOUISE QUINN 61)
It’s all too easy for the visitors at the moment.
Connolly drills in a corner and Louise Quinn is barely challenged as she heads home.
The Republic make a double change.
Stapleton and Larkin are on, Payne and Littlejohn are off.
Here’s a look at the McCabe goal…
Katie McCabe scores a superb individual goal, with the sublime finish coming from her 'weaker' right foot.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 5, 2023
📺Watch https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7…
📻Listen https://t.co/6cFzxLzMuv
📱Follow https://t.co/BaJZ5gyWOU pic.twitter.com/vN50isZqCp
70 mins: The game has calmed down a bit now after that early flurry of goals in the second half.
The Republic know they have the game won and are passing it about confidently.
Check out the fifth goal below…
Louise Quinn becomes the Republic of Ireland's fifth goalscorer on the night, with her towering header from a corner finding the back of the net.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 5, 2023
📺Watch https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7…
📻Listen https://t.co/6cFzxLzMuv
📱Follow https://t.co/BaJZ5gyWOU pic.twitter.com/dK7K4s2tAR
NORTHERN IRELAND 1-5 REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (BEATTIE 74)
The Republic concede a goal for just the second time in this Nations League campaign.
The defence don’t deal with a corner, it falls to Holloway, who fires it into a crowded area and the substitute Beattie is in the right place to convert from close range.
Connolly goes very close to making it six after excellent work in the build-up from O’Sullivan.
Her goalbound shot is deflected over the bar for a corner.
More changes for the Republic.
Lucy Quinn and Louis Quinn go off, Atkinson and Mustaki come on.
A final change for the Republic.
Jamie Finn is replaced by Lily Agg.
NORTHERN IRELAND 1-6 REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (HAYES 86)
The Republic make it six and it’s more inept marking from their opponents.
Connolly fires in a corner and Hayes finds space to volley home for her second goal of the campaign.
Here’s a look at a rare moment to cheer for the hosts…
Northern Ireland score a consolation goal via Kerry Beattie, who finds the back of the net through a sea of bodies.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 5, 2023
📺Watch https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7…
📻Listen https://t.co/6cFzxLzMuv
📱Follow https://t.co/BaJZ5gyWOU pic.twitter.com/jcTh93gwjm
There will be four minutes of stoppage time…
As I type, Carusa strikes it narrowly wide after good play in the build-up involving Agg and McCabe.
The Arsenal star has also just been named player of the match by RTÉ.
FULL-TIME: NORTHERN IRELAND 1-6 REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Here’s a look at the final goal tonight…
A devilishly good Republic of Ireland side score their sixth goal on the night, in their sixth win from six Nations League matches, with Caitlin Hayes getting on the scoresheet.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 5, 2023
📺Watch https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7…
📻Listen https://t.co/6cFzxLzMuv
📱Follow https://t.co/BaJZ5gyWOU pic.twitter.com/5ax3HrKQsQ
So that’s that.
After a slow start, the Republic of Ireland ultimately outclassed their Northern neighbours.
There were a couple of spectacular goals and a few aided by some woeful defending by the hosts.
The statistics make for great reading from a Republic perspective — they finish the campaign with six wins from six, 20 goals scored and just two conceded.
Northern Ireland, meanwhile, have to settle for third place in the group.
Eileen Gleeson’s side have consistently looked too good for this level and they will be looking forward to pitting their wits in League A soon.
Right, that’s it from me for now.
We’ll have more reaction to follow.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
