After a tight affair last Friday, Ireland took on Wales at the Aviva in front of over 25,000 fans in the 2nd Leg of their playoff bid to compete this summer in Switzerland. As Kilmanagh finest, Katie McCabe marched onto the battlefield with her team behind her. The atmosphere was intense, the game was priceless, yet the end result was heartbreaking.
Zero changes were made to Eileen Gleeson’s side after a tough, sought after draw in the previous matchup. As expected, Ireland got off to the far stronger start, earning themselves two corners in the opening three minutes. Ireland’s attacking game plan was to penetrate the wings, crossing first time at any chance. This became evident ten minutes in, with McCabe and Julie-Ann Russell pinging ball after ball in the Welsh box. Keeping them under immense pressure.
It took eighteen minutes for the referee to pull out her cards, booking McCabe for a late tackle and descent. After having her jersey pulled multiple times.
Ireland had their first effort on goal twenty minutes in. Tricky played down the left wing from McCabe with Ruesha Littlejohn finding Denise O’Sullivan. O’Sullivan struck one towards Olivia Clark’s net, only for it to bounce off the crossbar and clear away.
Wales then enjoyed ten minutes of possession and attacking threats through the middle, as the Irish midfield seemed to lose its shape. Littlejohn’s poor touch allowed Fishlock to intercept her. To be fouled by Littlejohn outside of the box. Woodham fired the freekick over the wall goal-bound and stopped by a fully outstretched Brosnan in between the Irish sticks to keep the sides level. Another major opportunity came for Wales from the resulting corner, denied once again by Brosnan in goal.
Three minutes before halftime, McCabe went flying into a reckless challenge by the Welsh corner flag in an attempt to stop a counterattack. Following a good passage of play for Ireland, the referee blew her whistle for half time.
Two minutes into the second half, Wales were awarded a penalty. After an extensive VAR check, it concluded that a Welsh freekick struck Anna Patten’s arm, which was in an unnatural position. Hannah Cain stepped up to take it for Wales, sent Brosnan the wrong way and shot it to give Wales the lead.
O’Sullivan, who continued to find herself in all of the Welsh midfield gaps, crossed an enticing ball into the Welsh box towards Kyra Carusa, which was cleared again by the strong Welsh backline.
Five minutes after being substituted on, Jones was played through on goal from a gorgeous ball from Woodham, and slotted it calmly into the bottom left of the Irish goal. Giving Wales a two-goal cushion twenty-five minutes from the end. The game seemed to have gotten away from Ireland, and the heads started to drop.
Twenty minutes before the end, Ireland saw the introduction of Leanne Kiernan, Megan Connolly and Megan Campbell. Fifteen minutes later, Ireland found the back of the net through Anna Patten. Following a corner in which Patten’s initial effort was saved, but got her own rebound and stuck it home. The Aviva erupted, as everyone in attendance knew the game was in for a nail-biting finish.
Megan Campbell’s last rocket throw-ins couldn’t produce any glory for Ireland, even after 8 minutes in the Welsh box in added time. They made it to the final whistle holding onto their 2-1 lead (3-2 on aggregate). Dismay and sorrow filled the Irish camp that most certainly deserved to come out of this game with their place booked in this summer’s championships.
Falling just short after a rancidly tough group, followed up by the heavy task of the Welsh is nothing to be ashamed of.