Ireland's superiority shows as they rise to the occasion
Uefa Women's Nations League, B1
Ireland 3 Northern Ireland 0
After being unable to defy expectations at the World Cup, Ireland are meeting them in the Nations League.
Their consolation for missing out on sharing League A with the 15 top European nations was facing inferior opposition.
Disparity in the Fifa rankings between Ireland and their northern neighbours, Hungary, and Albania justify the anticipation of completing this series with six straight victories.
Saturday’s opponents included five home-based starters, whereas their hosts didn’t use any national league representative among their 16 participants, illustrating the gulf in levels of conditioning.
It was first evident six years ago when 2-0 and 4-0 wins were registered in World Cup qualification and the North’s feat since of reaching the Euros hasn’t closed the gap.
Once Ireland forged ahead through Lucy Quinn’s volley on the half hour, the outcome was never in doubt.
Kyra Carusa’s third international goal with 20 minutes left and a third with Lily Agg’s first touch after coming on completed the expected job.
Two set-piece goals and a gift from a blunder accounted for the comfortable triumph.
“There was a lot of noise in the build-up and we spoke about that,” said Eileen Gleeson, the caretaker boss who will also lead the team Tuesday in Budapest - at a minimum.
“We had to focus on this match and occasion of a first-ever women’s international at the Aviva Stadium.
“Football is a changing environment and you can only move forward.
“Things happen. We just narrowed it in, galvanised inside and stayed positive.”
Much of the focus centred on what this Ireland team looks like after Vera Pauw and in reality it resembled the one she took over in 2019.
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