How can we contextualize last night’s Republic of Ireland women’s win against France in Cork?
The win against Scotland in Glasgow secured a first-ever World Cup Final appearance, and Amber Barrett’s goal will, of course, live long in the memory.
But beating the team ranked second in the world in a competitive qualifier is right up there.
France had already secured their place in Switzerland next summer and will be playing in the Olympics on home soil in a little over a week’s time but it never looked as though they were going through the motions.
Ireland needed to match Poland’s result at home to Norway to secure a seeding in the playoff draw this Friday. When Iceland went 1-0 up, pleasing the new Men’s manager Heimir Hallgrimsson, who was in the crowd on two levels, a 0-0 draw could have been the best that the 18,399 crowd could have hoped for.
But no. A Katie McCabe throw to Jess Ziu and a pass to Denise O’Sullivan allowed her to shoot across the French Goalie, and the ball nestled in the net.
Julie Ann Russell added to the party, and then when France scored to set up a nervous last few minutes and nine minutes of injury time were held up, it became a little less fun. But then a Megan Connolly corner and an Anna Patten-assist header delivered a final score of 3-1.
Great atmosphere, great result, storylines flowing and a place in the draw for the Euro Finals. Job done.
It is perhaps a shame that there were not more supporters. An early kick-off meant it was more child-friendly, but to be fair, Cork has a busy week of sport ahead: an All Ireland Hurling Final on Sunday follows an All Ireland Ladies Football Semi-Final on Saturday night.
And it is only 12 months since we were setting record attendance at Tallaght Stadium than was less than half the number last night.
So to the playoffs and the first round will pitch the teams from League A that did not qualify by automatic right against the best of League C.
The latter will play at home first, with the return at the seeded team.
Our opponents could be Albania, Belarus, Georgia, Greece, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Romania, or Slovenia.
If we make it through that, then the second round of playoffs will now see us seeded again as a result of last night. The opposition will be whoever emerges from the second path of playoffs between Azerbaijan, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Northern Ireland, Portugal, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey, Ukraine, and Wales, or possibly Poland, whom we nudged out of the sedding for this second round.
None of them will be easy, and looking for accommodation in Geneva next summer might be a little premature, but the team will be better for having played at a higher level and coming through with no embarrassing reversals. Eileen Gleeson has a choice of potential goalscorers, and Leanne Kiernan now looks like a starter with her speed and eye for the opposition box.
We can allow ourselves to get just a little bit excited again.
18,399 fans
3 goals
1 win over #2 team in the world
0 doubt this team is stronger for the experience of League A. #Coygig @IrelandFootball pic.twitter.com/S0S13WgeFX— Sport for Business (@SportforBusines) July 16, 2024
What a goal from the @GalwayUnitedFC star 😍#LOI | @IrelandFootball
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) July 16, 2024
Incredible result from @IrelandFootball National Women’s Team tonight against France in Cork. Warmest and proud congratulations, @GleesonEileen and team. #COYGIG pic.twitter.com/i0GO2MfwB9
— Thomas Byrne (@ThomasByrneTD) July 16, 2024
Une victoire inoubliable !
Proud of our Girls in Green 👏☘️ https://t.co/UNztxTxd83
— Irish Embassy Paris (@IrlEmbParis) July 16, 2024
What a victory for Ireland in Cork tonight. The Girls in Green defeating the second-ranked team in the world. Congratulations to Eileen Gleeson and the team. What a performance. pic.twitter.com/3UZ5NrksRw
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) July 16, 2024
Full time in cork and it’s 3-1 to @IrelandFootball
📸: @RyanByrnePhoto #COYGIG pic.twitter.com/3ngeBkjtQq— Inpho Photography (@Inphosports) July 16, 2024
🇮🇪 3-1 🇫🇷
“I’m so proud of the girls. Their work-rate was fantastic. What a result” – Ireland manager Eileen Gleeson delighted as Ireland confirm seeding for the Women’s Euro 2025 play-offs with a notable scalp#WEURO2025 pic.twitter.com/jlk17fFJv3— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 16, 2024
Iontach ! Fantastic result in Páirc UÍ Chaoimh. Comhghairdeas libh #COYGIG #WEURO2025 https://t.co/7n1kJGjZgC
— Catherine Martin TD (@cathmartingreen) July 16, 2024
3-1 to the #GirlsinGreen. Incredible result in Cork. ☘ #COYGIG #IRLFRA #proudsponsor pic.twitter.com/PXMpPR58Dg
— AVIVA (@AVIVAIRELAND) July 16, 2024
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