14mins: Corner for Ireland but McCabe’s delivery is very deep and Wales eventually scramble away the danger again. This is good pressure from Ireland. Wales struggling to build anything substantial at the other end of the pitch.
11mins: Some nice play by Katie McCabe creates a chance outside the box for Denise O’Sullivan but Wales clear the danger. Kyra Carusa then with a neat header to Julie-Ann Russell but again Wales survive. Better from Ireland. They are creating more than the hosts.
9mins: Ireland certainly look the more physical of the sides. A couple of meaty tackles have already been put in by the girls in white.
5mins: Very stop-start opening to proceedings. Both teams are trying to figure each other out, no flow to the game as of yet. Ireland have put in a couple of decent challenges, though.
1min: Wales get the game underway but Ireland quickly gain possession.
The teams are out, the anthems are being belted out. Almost showtime in Cardiff.
Eileen Gleeson speaking before the game.
Ireland will be in white tonight.
The teams are in for tonight’s game in Cardiff:
Ireland: Brosnan (Everton); Payne (Everton), Patten (Aston Villa), Hayes (Celtic), Fahey (Liverpool), McCabe (Arsenal); Agg (Birmingham City), O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Littlejohn (London City Lionesses); Russell (Galway United), Carusa (San Diego Wave).
Wales: Clark (FC Twente); Roberts (Real Betis), Ladd (Manchester United), Evans (Liverpool), Woodham (Crystal Palace); Holland (Liverpool), James (Seattle Reign), Griffiths (Southampton), Morgan (Bristol City); Rowe (Southampton), Fishlock (Seattle Reign).
Leanne Kiernan on chasing her dreams in football: “I remember, moving abroad, I told my parents, ‘Listen, I love football and this is why I am doing the job but if there is ever a point that I don’t like it any more, I think I’d hang up my boots and come home.’
[ Liverpool striker back in form and ready to contribute in play-off against WalesOpens in new window ]
Karen Duggan on the importance of this play-off for Ireland - a result that will have an impact well beyond the pitch.
That match preview from Gavin:
“If they lose out to Wales, the FAI will need to explain their decisions since the World Cup ended amid accusations and recriminations.
Specifically, why Gleeson was given the Nations League B campaign last year as a trial run, and why, after six straight wins, the coaching ticket got short-term contracts to bring Ireland to Euro 2025?”
[ Ireland v Wales preview: Eileen Gleeson’s side braced for high-stakes encounterOpens in new window ]
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Ireland’s first leg away to Wales in the women’s Euro 2025 playoffs, with history at stake, a first time in the tournament for the Irish team. David Gorman here, soon passing onto the capable hands of Gordon Manning closer to kickoff. Gavin Cummiskey is in Wales and he sets the scene “This marks the beginning of the end or the acceleration of a golden period for women’s football in Ireland. Either way, the stakes are off the charts with all roads leading to the second leg at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday.”
A big one then. Kick-off is 7.15pm at the Cardiff City Stadium. The starting team will follow when available.
Republic of Ireland squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (London City Lionesses), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic)
Defenders: Jessie Stapleton (Sunderland, on loan from West Ham United), Diane Caldwell (FC Zurich), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Aoife Mannion (Manchester United), Caitlin Hayes (Celtic), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Megan Campbell (London City Lionesses)
Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Carolina), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Lily Agg (Birmingham City), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Ruesha Littlejohn (London City Lionesses), Heather Payne (Everton), Marissa Sheva (Portland Thorns), Izzy Atkinson (Crystal Palace)
Forwards: Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Julie-Ann Russell (Galway United).
