A cold wet evening kick-off in the Welsh capital of Cardiff, saw Ireland battle it out in their first-leg Euro 2025 playoff against a strong Welsh team. Ireland is looking to once again qualify off the back, of their 2023 World Cup campaign. Eileen Gleeson’s team kicked us off in their regular 4-3-3 formation which we’ve become very accustomed to. Arsenal’s captain and fan favourite Katie McCabe wore the armband for Ireland on Friday’s encounter.
10 minutes in, Kyra Carusa flicked a ball over the top from Niamh Fahey’s clearance into the path of Julie-Ann Russell, who scuffed a shot over the bar but got a fantastic reception from the travelling Irish supporters. Unfortunately, Wales struck first. A ball down the right wing from Ceri Holland through to Jessica Fishlock resulted in a cross missed by Fahey and slotted home by Lily Woodham. A well-worked team goal against the run of play put Wales ahead.
On the 35th-minute mark, Ireland responded. A poor cross from Katie McCabe gets headed away to Ruesha Littlejohn, who audaciously smashes it from 40+ yards out. Olivia Clark, who was standing off her line, tipped it onto her crossbar, and rebounded back off of her arm into the back of the Welsh net, to the sweet surprise of the Irish team. Littlejohn won’t be credited with the goal sadly, but the Irish women were back on level terms.
Wales did their homework on this Irish team, doubling and at times tripling McCabe, every time she found herself space with the ball. The good link-up play between McCabe and Denise O’Sullivan down the left wing gave McCabe a chance to whip in her trademark left-footed curler but, came to nothing in the end. McCabe had many chances in the first half but it was a similar story.
As halftime came upon us, Ireland seemed to be the more dominant side, enjoying their dominance in the first and last 15 minutes of the first 45. Wales’s advantage was clearly in the air, winning all of the aerial duels, whilst Ireland won all the 50/50 tackles on the ground. Both goals come from mistakes from the opposing team, but also scoring from both teams’ only shot on target of the first half, with both sides showing defensive prowess. Littlejohn was the standout player in this first half, displaying her ball-winning and chance-creating in a beautiful 45 minutes of action.
Wales came out in the second half the far stronger outfit, with chances galore. Lily Woodham headed a ball down to her striker, Ffion Morgan at the edge of the box, who skewed her effort wide of the Irish net, which definitely should have troubled Courtney Brosnan in goals.
Wales’s technical ability was on show for the start of this second half, whilst the strength and determination of this ferocious Irish side kept them in it. The Irish right side caused the most problems for Wales, as O’Sullivan, Heather Payne and Anna Patten sought out any Welsh threat, whilst causing havoc down the right wing. Payne won a freekick down by the dugouts, swung in by McCabe and narrowly missed Fahey at the back post.
On the hour mark, a poor touch at the back from Caitlin Hayes set Welsh substitute Carrie Jones through on goal. Fortunately, Niamh Fahey was again the hero, as her last-ditch tackle sorted out any chance of a shot from Jones.
On the 80-minute mark, a McCabe corner found the left foot of Hayes, who hammered one towards the Welsh goal, only for it to be tipped over the bar from Clark—an outstanding save to keep the game tied at one apiece.
Irish substitute Leanne Kirwan and O’Sullivan seemed to find each other best, releasing one another down the left wing on various occasions. After a confident 10 minutes of Irish football, the fourth official added 4 more minutes to this close game. Wales had one last attack down the left wing with the substitutes Jones and Kayleigh Barton linking up well. A ball swung in from Barton on the counterattack found Jones, only for it to flash wide of the goal, a “head in hands” moment for Wales, who really could have stolen it at the death.
Shortly after Jones’s golden chance, the referee blew the final whistle. Ruesha Littlejohn deservedly won ‘Player of the Match’ and gave another exuberant interview, saying she’s disappointed not to be awarded the goal, but overall, just happy to be back out representing her country at the highest standard.
The ladies will fly home and prepare for Tuesday’s clash, hoping to send us to Switzerland for the 2025 European Championships.