Hello and welcome along to The42′s live coverage of this evening’s International Friendly between the Republic of Ireland and Denmark.
We’re coming into World Cup qualifier time in September and Vera Pauw’s side are ramping up preparations with a double-header of friendlies this week.
Denmark are first up this evening in Tallaght followed by an away game against Belgium this Sunday. These ties will will represent the first non-competitive fixtures of Vera Pauw’s managerial reign, which began in September 2019.
We’ll have team news for you in the next few moments as we gear up for the 6.30pm kick-off.
Here’s how Ireland are named to line out:
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🔘 7️⃣ different counties represented
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⏰ KO 18:30
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The journey to qualify for a first major tournament begins again this evening for Ireland. However, they go into this game with a few key absentees.
Eabha O’Mahony, Jessica Ziu, Isibeal Atkinson, Saoirse Noonan and Stephanie Roche are among the eight players who have been omitted. Leanne Kiernan and Clare Shine are unavailable through injury, while Niamh Reid-Burke has announced her international retirement.
Other absentees include Harriet Scott, who has exam commitments, and Megan Campbell, who’s still sidelined with a long-term injury. Julie-Ann Russell and Nicole Douglas – based in Australia and USA respectively – are ruled out by Covid-19 travel restrictions.
The Danes are an impressive outfit and will present a big challenge this evening. Ranked 14th in the world, they are heading to the Euros in 2022.
Their squad includes Chelsea star and two-time Uefa Women’s Player of the Year Pernille Harder.
Kick-Off! Ireland 0-0 Denmark
1 min: Ireland 0-0 Denmark
Ireland going with a back-three, which is a preferable system for Pauw.
4 mins: Ireland 0-0 Denmark
Ireland are going with a back-three which is a preferable system for Pauw.
Ireland enjoying some good attacking play in the opening minutes as Denise O’Sullivan sees her shot fall into the arms of the keeper.
7 mins: Ireland 0-0 Denmark
Ireland come under a little bit of pressure as Nicoline Sorensen sees her header skid off wide from a lovely cross in. There’s plenty of quality in this team so they’ll have a lot of threats to deal with this evening.
GOAL! Ireland 0-1 Denmark (8 mins, Sorensen)
11 mins: Ireland 0-1 Denmark
Tough blow for Ireland as they concede inside the opening 10 minutes. Once again, the Danes work the ball in well off the wing with Sofie Svava whipping in a beautiful cross.
The ball comes to Sorensen who squeezes her shot through the legs of Ireland keeper Grace Moloney.
14 mins: Ireland 0-1 Denmark
Good response from Ireland as Denise O’Sullivan and Jamie Finn link up to feed the ball to Amber Barrett. Barrett tries to get on the end of it but Lene Christensen is out in time to smother the ball.
All the action in Tallaght Stadium is live on the RTÉ Player.
20 mins: Ireland 0-1 Denmark
Ambitious bit of play from Heather Payne who spots the keeper off her line and tries to lob the ball over. It’s a gutsy effort but it’s from a difficult angle and her shot sails well over the crossbar.
25 mins: Ireland 0-1 Denmark
Denmark come on the attack again, with plenty of width in their game. Sofie Junge tries a shot at Moloney but it’s a tame attempt that settles nicely into the Reading keeper’s hands.
31 minutes: Ireland 0-1 Denmark
Payne looking busy again trying to put the Danes under pressure. Barrett getting in on the play as well as she intercepts a pass and tries to cut through the cover.
She gets caught in a collision and the possession spills away. Much more promising from Ireland.
33 mins: Ireland 0-1 Denmark
Great save from Moloney. Signe Bruun unleashes a sneaky shot after taking the ball down from a long throw. There’s plenty of power in the kick, but Moloney is equal to the effort as she pushes the ball over the bar and keeps the difference at one goal.
35 mins: Ireland 0-1 Denmark
Ireland work possession back into enemy territory again as Katie McCabe tries to link up with Barrett but they get closed down again.
40 mins: Ireland 0-1 Denmark
Close call there for Ireland. Moloney is lobbed from just outside the box but Diane Caldwell is alert to the danger and manages to head the ball away from danger.
She collides with Louise Quinn in the process but the danger has been averted. Denmark are still stepping on the gas coming up to half-time.
44 mins: Ireland 0-1 Denmark
Ireland try to test the Danish goalkeeper Christensen but she looks confident in the air as she gathers a cross and protects her goal.
One minute of added time to be played in Tallaght.
Half-Time: Ireland 0-1 Denmark
Ireland 0-1 Denmark
So that Sorensen in the eighth minute is what separates the sides at the break but there have been moments of promise from Ireland in the opening half.
Amber Barrett and Heather Payne have both proven to be handfuls for the Danish defence while Denise O’Sullivan is her usual industrious self in midfield.
Ireland 0-1 Denmark
The sides are coming back on the field at Tallaght Stadium for the second half. And it looks like Emily Whelan is coming on for Ireland.
Second-Half: Ireland 0-1 Denmark
And the second half is underway in Dublin. Heather Payne is making way for Whelan.
47 mins: Ireland 0-1 Denmark
Ireland captain McCabe looks to have taken a little bit of a knock and O’Sullivan has taken a heavy challenge too.
55 mins: Ireland 0-1 Denmark
CROSSBAR! What a shot from McCabe. She stands over the ball in space and unleashes an absolute rifle at the Denmark goal. Very unlucky to see her strike smack off the woodwork and come back into play.
The Ireland skipper played a big role in engineering that move, rounding an opponent and creating space for an attack.
59 mins: Ireland 0-1 Denmark
Megan Connolly is down holding her foot. She may need to be replaced after a solid shift this evening.
60 mins: Ireland 0-1 Denmark
Double substitution for Ireland. Ellen Molloy is on for Connolly while Rianna Jarett is on for Barrett.
66 mins: Ireland 0-1 Denmark
MISS! Very good effort from McCabe from a free in a really inviting position. That’s her second big chance of the night but once again, she’s unlucky.
Moloney produces a crucial save at the other end from Signe Bruun to force a corner.
71 mins: Ireland 0-1 Denmark
Ireland substitution: Áine O’Gorman comes on for Keeva Keenan.
73 mins: Ireland 0-1 Denmark
Brilliant work from O’Sullivan to gather the ball from a throw-in. She ducks around an opponent and nips in a cross which finds the head of Jarrett whose effort has just a bit too much air under it and it goes over the bar.
76 mins: Ireland 0-1 Denmark
Caldwell to the rescue again. The ball spills away from keeper Moloney. With Pernille Harder in hot pursuit, Caldwell throws herself on the ball to prevent a second goal for Denmark and Ireland can breathe a sigh of relief again.
82 mins: Ireland 0-1 Denmark
Harder tries a shot from distance but doesn’t connect well with the strike as it trickles out wide.
85 mins: Ireland 0-1 Denmark
McCabe earns a free which she takes herself. She tries to deliver the ball in onto the head of Jarrett but Denmark snuff out the set-piece.
O’Gorman does well on the other end to put the ball out of play and prevent a Denmark attack.
87 mins: Ireland 0-1 Denmark
Molloy fouls Harder and the ref blows for a free in a very dangerous position, just outside the box. This could be trouble.
89 mins: Ireland 0-1 Denmark
The Ireland wall does well to block the shot out first time. And they roar in celebration as the ball sails off.
Great work from McCabe who receives the ball under pressure well inside the Irish half. She sends the ball up towards the halfway line with a composed kick, and the ball is helped on for Jarrett.
Unfortunately, nothing comes from the attack.
Jamie Finn has just been selected as Player of the Match by the RTÉ Player co-commentator Lisa Fallon.
90 mins: Ireland 0-1 Denmark
Three minutes of added time to be played in Tallaght.
91 mins: Ireland 0-1 Denmark
A great chance comes to Whelan after a long ball in is sent into her path by Quinn. But her shot is sent into the side netting.
Full-Time: Ireland 0-1 Denmark
Ireland 0-1 Denmark
It’s defeat for Vera Pauw’s side but that was a very encouraging performance against a side who are ranked 14th in the world, and is peppered with high quality players all over the pitch.
Katie McCabe twice came close to stealing a goal for Ireland while Emily Whelan had a chance towards the end that unfortunately hit the side-netting.
It all bodes well for Sunday’s friendly against Belgium.
Some highlight images from the night
Well that’s all from us folks. Stick around to have a read of Emma Duffy’s match report from Tallaght Stadium.
Until next time, goodbye.
