Rep Ireland 5 Northern Ireland 1:The Republic of Ireland senior women's team recorded its biggest victory in almost a decade yesterday with a 5-1 defeat of Northern Ireland in their opening encounter of the Cyprus Cup and in the process send Sue Ronan's side to the top of their group.
Diane Caldwell, Louise Quinn, Megan Campbell, Shannon Smyth and Ruesha Littlejohn got the goals as the Republic cruised to victory over a side that had recently proved its worth by beating highly ranked Norway in a qualifying game.
Alana McShane got their goal just short of an hour in to make it 2-1 but Ronan’s players quickly recovered their momentum.
“It was a great performance and exactly the start we wanted to make in the opening game of the tournament,” said Ronan afterwards.
“I think it is going to do wonders for the squad’s confidence as they were a bit down on themselves after the European Championships.”
The team take on South Africa, who lost to South Korea yesterday, in their next outing tomorrow.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Byrne (Arsenal), Quinn (Eskilstuna United DFF), Tracy (Arsenal), Megan Campbell (Raheny Utd), de Burca (Amazon Grimstad FK), Caldwell (Alvadsnes FC), Littlejohn (Glasgow City), O’Sullivan (Cork Women’s FC), Smyth (Amazon Grimstad FK), O’Gorman (Peamount Utd), Lawlor (Peamount Utd). Subs: Roche (Peamount Utd) for Lawlor (72 mins), Grant (Raheny Utd) for O’Sullivan (78 mins), Cooke (Raheny Utd) for de Burca (80 mins), Murray (Raheny Utd) for Tracy (87 mins).
