Early goals the difference as European champions England edge Ireland
IRELAND 0
ENGLAND 2 (Lauren James 12, Alex Greenwood 18 pen)
It began with Ireland’s first corner of the campaign but wasn’t long before they were cornered by their English conquerors.
That was the pattern which ensued as the European champions surged two goals ahead within 18 minutes before their toying with their neighbours removed any real tension from what was supposed to be a female version of an old rivalry.
This was more akin to the men’s last meeting with the Auld Enemy when a 3-0 drubbing at an empty Wembley Stadium during the 2020 Covid-19 period was compounded by revelations of Stephen Kenny’s ill-judged prematch rallying call.
Eileen Gleeson avoided such crassness of resorting to historical ideology but it didn't change the outcome as class told.
Maybe that's indicative of a contest between the teams ranked second and 25th in the world but the hordes that attended the first-ever qualifier at the national stadium might have been entitled to some smidgeon of goalmouth action.
What they rather got were flashes of penalty-box skirmishes once their lethal weapon, Megan Campbell, was introduced on the hour.
Throws and free-kicks, not open play, represented Ireland’s route to redemption.
Hannah Hampton was the most notable of England’s newcomers, for she displaced BBC Personality of the Year Mary Earps in goal, yet the Chelsea stopper held firm as the deliveries were slung in from arms and feet.
Her sole lapse was allowing Katie McCabe to charge down a kick from her hands with five minutes left. She avoided blushes by scampering back to foil the Ireland captain's lofter from an acute angle.
By the juncture of Campbell’s arrival, Ireland were behind and England were comfortable. Sarina Wiegman didn’t
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