Women's Uefa Group 4 Qualifier:NOT FOR the first time over the week, a Republic of Ireland international side were left soul-searching, when the women's team suffered 1-0 defeat to Wales.
Defeat at Turner’s Cross in front of 653 spectators for Sue Ronan’s team shifts control of their play-off prospects beyond their grasp into the hands of Scotland, whom they must beat on Thursday in Cork (7.30pm) to get back into the hunt.
With France on the brink of securing top spot in Group 4, results against Wales and Scotland are imperative for Ireland if they’re to finish second and claim a play-off route into next year’s European Championships in Sweden.
Saturday’s loss to the Welsh, a team they’d defeated 2-0 away last September, was all the more disappointing due to the dominance Ireland held during the contest.
While praising the efforts of her players on Saturday, Ronan admits her side’s European dream will vanish this week unless they can regain a winning habit.
REP OF IRELAND: E Byrne (Arsenal); S Perry (Chelsea), L Quinn (Peamount United), Y Tracy (Arsenal), M Campbell (Raheny United); S Smyth (Amazon Grimstad FK); C Grant (Arsenal); M O’Brien (Chicago Red Eleven); A O’Gorman (Doncaster Belles); D. OSullivan (Cork); JA Russell (Doncaster Belles). Subs: R Littlejohn (Liverpool) for O’Brien (71 mins); C Khassal (Wexford) for Russell (76 mins); S Roche (Peamount United) for Smyth (86 mins).
