Soccer

Stubborn display boosts Irish challenge

Women's football: The Irish women's international team made significant gains in their bid to avoid bottom spot in Group Four…

Wed May 10 2006 - 01:00

Women's football: The Irish women's international team made significant gains in their bid to avoid bottom spot in Group Four of the World Cup qualifiers with a valiant performance in Germany.

Noel King's side faced the world champions in Cottbuss on the back of Saturday's disappointing 2-0 defeat to Scotland, but produced a display that will be invaluable when the standings in Group Four are finalised.

Germany have not failed to score at least four goals so far in world cup qualification, but managed merely one against a young Irish side in front of 12,000 fans.

The Irish defence was breached after just two minutes but they refused to fold for the remainder of the game and nearly sneaked an equaliser through left winger Edel Malone.

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Naturally Arsenal goalkeeper Emma Byrne played a key role in keeping Germany at bay, making several important stops top deny the world's best attack.

Ireland were not always on the defensive however and controlled large chunks of possession.  The performance will provide a major confidence boost ahead of the visit of Russia to Richmond Park next month.

After the game King hailed a "moral victory" and said: "The magnitude of the performance by all of the girls is something we should all be delighted about."

"Right through the team, we were magnificent. Emma Byrne gave the performance of the month for any sports player in Ireland by producing great saves and all of the other players, including the substitutes, contributed to the game."

"This result will do wonders for our goal difference," said King. "We have to play Russia at home next month and we'll go into the game with great confidence and sure that we have the ability to stay up in the top European division by the end of the campaign."

A result against Russia next month would almost definitely keep King's side in the upper echelons of women's international football.

Republic of Ireland Team; Emma Byrne, Elaine O'Connor, Sharon Boyle, Marie Curtin, Alisha Moran, Sonya Hughes, Ciara Grant (C), Diane Caldwell, Edel Malone, Michele O'Brien, Olivia O'Toole.