Performance is good but Ireland rue missed chances
FIVE games into 2024 and Ireland are still looking for their first goal of the year.
Had the Girls in Green found that elusive clinical edge in the final third last night against Sweden, they wouldn’t have been staring down the barrel of a 3-0 defeat.
But they aren’t in League B of the Nations League anymore. This is the big time and when chances aren’t taken at one end, punishment awaits at the other.
Much of last night’s display was so much more encouraging than in the previous two Euro 2025 qualifiers away to France and at home to England.
But their failure to take advantage of some very good – and well crafted – openings early on cost them dearly.
Hungarian referee Katalin Kulcsar somehow waved away a Swedish penalty shout on the half-hour when Jess Ziu kicked Filippa Angeldal inside the area.
Ziu was going for the ball but got nowhere near it and whacked her opponent on her quad instead.
They were already a goal ahead at this stage, thanks to
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s 26th minute strike. But that was
unreflective of an encouraging Irish first-half performance.
Ziu was outstanding, Jessie Stapleton not far behind her.
And Katie Mccabe was far more involved than in the
previous two games, despite her round trip to Melbourne with Arsenal last week.
Up front, the inclusion of two forwards in Kyra Carusa and Amber Barrett surprised a few but they put in serious shifts at both ends of the pitch.
Lily Agg was guilty of a terrible miss when Caitlin Hayes’ long ball forward found Barrett on the right.
Her low cross was met by the midfielder six yards from goal but the connection was poor and the ball rolled wide of the left-hand post. Barrett headed over from three yards after a mazy Mccabe run, a quick Agg pass and an perfect Ziu cross.
Another Hayes ball upfield and another chance for Barrett but a heavy touch took the ball into the grateful arms of Zecira Musovic (left).
Somewhere in the middle of those openings came a painful lesson in attacking efficiency.
The visitors’ second came in the 62nd minute – and they were good value for this one as Fridolina Rolfo whipped a
curling shot from 16 yards inside the right-hand upright.
And they struck again, Rytting Kaneryd getting her second of the night in the 86th minute.
LEAGUE leaders Shelbourne tasted defeat for the first time in nine games as Sligo stunned the title-chasers.
Kailin Barlow and Fabrice Hartmann did the damage in Drumcondra, despite Sean Boyd levelling in the second half.
With a number of the Ireland squad in attendance including Enda Stevens, Shane Duffy and Matt Doherty, Damien Duff’s side dominated the early proceedings.
With just two minutes on the clock, last week’s match-winning hero in Tallaght Will Jarvis rose highest, heading down towards the near post but saw his effort sharply turned behind by the in-form Ed Mcginty.
Looking in rampant mood, the hosts should have taken the lead when Boyd raced clear through on goal but, again, the league’s top shot-stopper was brave.
But the Reds were punished when Barlow (above) picked up a long ball that fell kindly, then showed quick feet to burst forward before drilling an excellent low shot across goal and into the bottom corner.
On the hour Shels managed to eventually breach the resolute Rovers defence.
Boyd sent the home fans wild as he took control of a loose ball from another Caffrey corner, before cutting inside on his left foot and smashing home the equaliser.
But, much like the first half, the visitors showed tremendous character and managed to get themselves back in front despite being under the cosh.
Hartmann kept his cool to slide the ball past the onrushing Conor Kearns and stun Tolka Park.
SHAMROCK ROVERS were missing plenty of players but their performance wasn’t found lacking at Weavers Park.
Sean Hoare, Dan Cleary, Roberto Lopes, Joshua Honohan and Trevor Clarke were all out.
Jack Byrne was also missing again, while Darragh Burns and Gary O’neill remain on the absentee list too.
But it was Rovers’ reliable forward players who won the game with two moments of class.
Johnny Kenny and Graham Burke sealed victory with two quickfire goals early in the second half.
With 18-year-old Cory O’sullivan making a full league debut at left wing back, Rovers roared out of the traps after the break.
Drogheda, meanwhile, were caught sleeping.
Just 90 seconds had elapsed when Aaron Greene’s pass cut from midfield cut through the United midfield and found Kenny.
He evaded the attentions of Jack Keaney, controlled and lifted a shot over Andrew Wogan and into the net.
The lead was doubled when Burke (above) was given way too much time and space to curl a shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.
It was far too simple for a player of his calibre and the game was won.