Full-time: Republic of Ireland 0-2 Norway
Good evening, and welcome along to a sun-kissed Tallaght Stadium. The Republic of Ireland Women’s side face fellow qualification hopefuls Norway in the first of a double-header before Tuesday’s away game.
Colin Bell’s side are still in the hunt for a place at the Women’s World Cup — an achievement that would be a first for the Girls in Green.
Kick-off is just 15 minutes away now and the teams are coming right up.
Here’s the Ireland starting line-up:
Kick-off - We’re underway and straight away Ireland are on the attack, but the ball is nicked off Katie McCabe.
6 mins – We’ve had a fast-paced start to the game, with Ireland pressing their opponents high up the field.
The Girls in Green are lining out in a 4-5-1 with Perry-Campbell, Caldwell, Quinn and O’Gorman across the back, a midfield trio of Duggan, Toland and Fahey, while O’Sullivan and McCabe occupy the wings.
That leaves Leanne Kieran to lead the line.
12 mins – A Norway attack down the right sees Caroline Graham Hansen shoot into the side-netting.
13 mins – This time, the visitors test Marie Hourihan as Guro Reiten finds the target from 20 yards but the Ireland goalkeeper is equal to it.
17 mins – Best chance of the evening so far and it has fallen to Norway. Graham Hansen’s ball across the box was cut out by Caldwell. It runs to the penalty spot, where Ingrid Syrstad Engen shoots over the bar.
21 mins – GOAL! Republic of Ireland 0-1 Norway
We have the opening goal of the game and it’s the away side who find the back of the net. Guro Reiten’s corner is lofted into the danger area and Lisa-Marie Utland gets her head onto it to direct the ball home.
28 mins – Ireland have responded well by stringing a number of passes together in the opposing half. O’Gorman earns a throw in the far corner, but it comes to nothing and Norway clear their lines.
Down the other end, Frida Maanum blasts over.
30 mins – Off the bar! The Norwegians threaten again as Reiten’s shot is initially blocked by Perry-Campbell. The same player follows up and drives at goal. Hourihan gets a fingertip to the strike to push it onto the crossbar.
Meanwhile, Quinn is down receiving treatment after a bang to the head.
35 mins – Yellow card – O’Sullivan goes on a magnificent run out of defence to ease the pressure and gets taken down by Graham Hansen inside the Norway half. The midfielder goes into the referee’s book.
That free-kick is put into the box and after a few half-clearances, McCabe goes down under a challenge. It’s waved on, however.
37 mins – Substitution: That’s the end of Quinn’s night and the Arsenal defender is coming off after failing to fully recover from that head injury. Claire O’Riordan is on in her place.
44 mins – Yet another chance for Norway as Reiten curls a free-kick from deep towards the back post and Herlovsen heads over.
Half-time: Republic of Ireland 0-1 Norway
46 mins – Second half: The game has restarted. No changes on either side for now.
49 mins – That’s a golden opportunity for Ireland! Kiernan breaks on the counter-attack with a direct run from her own half. Leaving three Norwegian players in her wake, the Shelbourne striker does excellently but her shot at Ingrid Hjelmseth was a tame one.
58 mins – It remains 1-0 to Norway here, but Ireland aren’t out of this one just yet. Both Amber Barrett and Rianna Jarrett are warming up on the touchline and we’re likely to see at least one of the back-up strikers shortly.
61 mins – GOAL! Republic of Ireland 0-2 Norway (Lisa-Marie Utland)
There’s a second. Another Reiten free-kick was knocked on by Syrstad Engan and Utland had a simple finish from close range.
70 mins - Substitutions on both sides as Ireland bring on Amber Barrett for Fahey, while the injured Caroline Graham Hansen comes off with Vilde Boe Risa taking her place.
76 mins – Another Norwegian change as goalscorer Utland is off for Elise Thorsnes.
81 mins – Norway break in numbers after an Ireland free-kick, but Herlovsen’s shot at Hourihan is weak.
91 mins – One late chance for Ireland, but Duggan volleys over after arriving late to connect with a cross.
Full-time: Republic of Ireland 0-2 Norway
Adam Byrne is a try scoring machine.
@Gary: Definitely. Superb player.
Furlong is a beast.
Bonus point in the bag …nice
What an embarrassing capitulation by Northampton. Brilliant by Leinster though. Good times
Leinster have had some sloppy moments but also some brilliant ones which have yielded some trys thankfully. Let’s hope we can finish off Northampton in the second half.
Leinster cruising! whos their biggest challenge this season to win the cup!? apart from their Irish counterparts ;)
@Paul Quigley: Sarries I would say.
Leinster are a serious team..and have great strength in depth..apart from Micheal Bent..young Porter shud be getting game time
The Leinster scrum destroyed theirs with bent in the front row. May not be international standard but he is very valuable to the Leinster squad. Gets too much stick
Porter is a prospect but I’d imagine bent would eat him now. Porter has strength but a lot of technique to learn
Too bloody easy. What a team.
Gruesome Saints.
Impressive win
Luke McGrath is so poor tonight…