Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Ireland’s Nations League opener against Türkiye.
Ciarán Kennedy here to bring you all the action as it happens at Tallaght Stadium, where Emma Duffy will be reporting for The 42.
Kick-off is at 7.45pm, and we’ll also keep you updated on tonight’s League of Ireland Premier Division games.
Here’s how Ireland line-up:
STARTING XI | Ireland v Türkiye
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) February 21, 2025
Carla Ward’s team to kick us off at Tallaght Stadium ☘️
⌚️ 19:30 on RTÉ2 📺 #COYGIG pic.twitter.com/HmUmr85Fka
So Heather Payne starts on her 50th cap, and Katie McCabe captains her country for the 65th time on her 94th appearance.
Tonight is the first match in charge for Carla Ward, who has spoken about introducing a ‘very different playing style’: it remains to be seen how that will transpire after limited time on the grass.
Ward has generally preferred a back four through her coaching career, but is fluid and flexible tactically. Ireland mostly played a 3-5-2 formation under her predecessor, Eileen Gleeson.
McCabe’s position is one huge source of interest: Ward has said she can be ‘utilised in a different way,’ the skipper has generally been deployed as a deep-lying left wing-back for Ireland.
She could be released by the returning Megan Campbell tonight. Aoife Mannion, Lucy Quinn and Marissa Sheva also come into the team that lost December’s Euro 2025 play-off defeat to Wales, with Caitlin Hayes and Jessie Stapleton dropping out alongside retired duo Niamh Fahey and Julie-Ann Russell. Hayes doesn’t start for the first time in her Ireland career, and Leanne Kiernan is ruled out with a calf injury.
The teams are out and it’s anthem time, let us know your score predictions in the comments.
4mins: Ireland 0 Turkiye 0
Some early pressure for Turkiye, who force a corner but can’t produce anything from the setpiece. Ireland’s first attack ends with Ruesha Littlejohn firing a shot over the bar from long range. An ambitious effort, but not too far off!
8mins: Ireland 0 Turkiye 0
Corner for Ireland. Katie McCabe sends the ball to the near post but Turkiye clear.
Here’s the four Premier Division games kicking-off at 7.45pm. We’ll keep you posted on all the goals.
- Drogheda Utd v Sligo Rovers
- Galway Utd v St Patrick’s Athletic
- Waterford v Shelbourne
- Derry City v Bohemians
14mins: Ireland 0 Turkiye 0
Bit of inaccuracy just letting Ireland down – Heather Payne chases a long ball over the top but just can’t get to it, then Megan Campbell tries a through ball but it’s overhit and goes straight out. Ireland are putting a lot of pressure on Turkiye when the visitors are on the ball, and look more lively at the moment.
19mins: Ireland 0 Turkiye 0
Another Ireland corner, and this one goes all the way through before Turkiye clear it, with Megan Campbell just not able to reach McCabe’s delivery.
22mins: Ireland 0 Turkiye 0
CHANCE!
The best chance of the game so far falls Ireland’s way, as Campbell’s long throw into the box is flicked on by Quinn before it comes out to Denise O’Sullivan, who snaps a low shot and sees it blocked on the line.
Campbell then had some treatment after a heavy tackle but she’s good to continue.
Early goals in the LOI!
A Michael Duffy free-kick has put Derry 1-0 up at home to Bohs.
Shels also 1-0 up away at Waterford, Ademipo Odubeko with the goal.
Here’s that O’Sullivan chance. Well hit, but a good block on the line.
Denise O'Sullivan sees her shot cleared off the line #COYGIG
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 21, 2025
📺 https://https://t.co/rEypK4GBey
🖥️ https://https://t.co/7jnPuOCazk pic.twitter.com/oUvKxpRNlZ
And here’s the Shelbourne goal:
The goal that has us in front! pic.twitter.com/TR7ujApuIM
— Shelbourne FC 🏆 (@shelsfc) February 21, 2025
37mins: Ireland 0 Turkiye 0
Courtney Brosnan quick off her line after a Campbell pass back threatened to play a Turkiye player in. Good reactions from the Ireland keeper!
Ireland now have a free in a good position, Payne the player fouled.
38mins: Ireland 0 Turkiye 0
Littlejohn plays the freekick short to O’Sullivan, who tries to slip the ball behind the wall but it runs straight out of play. A nice idea, but O’Sullivan just got the execution wrong.
Ireland win another free in a similar position, slightly deeper, and McCabe sends it towards Campbell at the back post. The ball breaks lose and Turkiye clear. Good spell of Ireland pressure, this.
40mins: Ireland 0 Turkiye 0
Another McCabe delivery, this time from a corner, ends with the ball bobbling loose around the box but again a Turkiye defender manages to clear.
The Saints are struggling in the west. Galway now 2-0 up against Pats, and it’s Hickey with his second! 24mins gone there.
Here’s Hickey’s second for Galway:
𝐈𝐓'𝐒 𝟐-𝟎 𝐈𝐍 𝐆𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘!
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) February 21, 2025
That man again, Patrick Hickey!
St Pat's in real trouble with just 25 minutes gone!#LOI pic.twitter.com/OOJiI61xq1
And Pat’s have one back in Galway, Aidan Keena with the goal, so it’s Galway 2 Pat’s 1 after 30mins.
GOAL!
Ireland lead in Tallaght! Kyra Carusa!
45+3: Ireland 1 Turkiye 0
That’s a lovely goal.
Mannion plays a short pass into Sheva, who flicks it back out to Payne at the edge of the box. Payne then floats a cross towards Carusa, and she manages to lift her header over the keeper and into the net.
HALFTIME: Ireland 1 Turkiye 0
Will get that Carusa goal for you here shortly. While you’re waiting, enjoy this from St Pats’ Aidan Keena:
𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐀 𝐆𝐎𝐀𝐋!!! 🤯
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) February 21, 2025
Aidan Keena that is sensational! The touch! The finish!
Game on in Galway!#LOI pic.twitter.com/4WBB20PX0F
The goal that has Ireland ahead in Tallaght:
Kyra Carusa's looping header in stoppage team ensures the Republic of Ireland lead Turkey 1-0 at half-time in their Nations League encounter. #COYGIG
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 21, 2025
📺 https://https://t.co/rEypK4GBey
🖥️ https://https://t.co/7jnPuOCazk pic.twitter.com/rGD2rCeSZd
Halftime scores in the LOI:
- Drogheda Utd 1 Sligo Rovers 0
- Galway Utd 2 St Patrick’s Athletic 1
- Waterford 0 Shelbourne 1
- Derry City 1 Bohemians 0
The goal that has Drogheda ahead against Sligo:
Drogheda are ahead!
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) February 21, 2025
Josh Thomas with the goal for The Drogs. pic.twitter.com/RTpa5Hno13
54mins: Ireland 1 Turkiye 0
Some promising build-up play from Ireland but Lucy Quinn is offside out wide as they push numbers into the box. Ireland still enjoying most of the ball, but a tame enough start to the second half. Turkiye well set-up defensively and proving tough to break down.
58mins: Ireland 1 Turkiye 0
Quinn gets the ball out wide again and takes on the defender, but her touch is heavy and it goes out for a goal-kick.
The managers might be thinking about making some changes soon.
And Ward makes two changes with just under 30mins still to play:
Abbie Larkin is on for Lucy Quinn. Kyra Carusa also makes way, with Amber Barrett taking her place.
68mins: Ireland 1 Turkiye 0
Littlejohn tries a long ball over the top, aimed at O’Sullivan, but maybe gets her angles wrong and Turkiye keeper Selda Akgöz is able to collect it under little pressure.
Payne then forces a corner for Ireland. McCabe sends the ball in but it finds a Turkiye head and the ball is cleared.
70mins: Ireland 1 Turkiye 0
Now it’s Ireland who have to deal with a bit of pressure, Turkiye with two corners in a row. Brosnan does well to bat the first delivery away, and the second corner sees Campbell head the ball clear.
76mins: Ireland 1 Turkiye 0
CHANCE!
McCabe puts a good ball into the box and it breaks loose, but Barrett can’t connect with the bouncing ball.
Another change for Ireland: Littlejohn off, Megan Connolly on.
Waterford now down to 10 men against Shels, who they trail 1-0. Ryan Burke the man sent-off.
Ryan Burke has been sent off at the RSC!
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) February 21, 2025
Waterford a goal and a man down. pic.twitter.com/LkrUk5tlFX
84mins: Ireland 1 Turkiye 0
Denise O’Sullivan clattered by a shoulder in the back from Basak – I’m wincing watching the replays. She’ll be ok to continue. I don’t think there was a yellow card shown to Basak there, so she got away with that one.
87mins: Ireland 1 Turkiye 0
Another change for Ireland, Megan Campbell makes way for Caitlin Hayes.
90mins: Ireland 1 Turkiye 0
Brosnan quick off her line again to snuff out a chance for Turkiye. Ireland just need to close this out now. We’re going to have six minutes of added time.
CHANCE!
So close for Turkiye! A free kick bounces loose and falls to Arzu Karabulut, but the substitute snatches at it and sends it narrowly win.
90+3mins: Ireland 1 Turkiye 0
RTÉ select Denise O’Sullivan for player of the match. No complaints here anyway.
FULLTIME: Ireland 1 Turkiye 0
The Carla Ward era is up and running with a win! Kyra Carusa’s first-half goal the difference for Ireland and they take a deserved win in Tallaght. Turkiye were well-organised defensively but didn’t offer much going forward. Next up it’s Slovenia on Tuesday.
Emma Duffy will have a full match report and reaction up on The 42 shortly!
With Constitution Hill going to Aintree looking less likely he will be running at Punchestown festival. This might be a better race than the champion hurdle of they got the lucky winner of champion to run in it too that would have a lot of contenders.
@Leighton Cullen: Need a comma in the first sentence. You can read it both as more likely Aintree or more likely Punchestown. Personally, I’ll believe he’s running in a race only when he’s at the start line.That horse needs to run a lot more often to prove his greatness