THERE WAS an incident after 10 minutes of the first half tonight when Irish duo Heather Payne and Jessie Stapleton both went for the same ball and were involved in a nasty collision.
That unfortunate moment felt like a metaphor for everything that followed.
There was an anxiety about Ireland’s play. They weren’t quite on the same page. Something was off. The team were malfunctioning.
It took until the 67th minute when they went two goals down before they really started to play.
It was only when they had nothing to lose that they finally looked galvanised.
A late rally yielded a goal and a breathless finish but ultimately it was Wales who were left celebrating a historic first-ever qualification for the European Championships.
Denise O’Sullivan did almost score, curling a superb effort off onto the woodwork from a distance, but the moment of beauty was an anomaly in an ugly opening period.
The first half was as scrappy and nerve-ridden as last week’s tentative first leg.
There was little to separate the team after 45 minutes.
Ireland had the better possession (62.6%), but Wales edged the shots on target (3 to 2).
Katie McCabe flirted with disaster.
The Arsenal star, already on a booking, looked as if she was set to commit another reckless late challenge, but pulled out to the extent that contact was minimal and she was let off with a warning.
Tight games at this level are often decided either by a mistake or a moment of brilliance.
The hosts’ defence had rarely been seriously tested until the 50th minute when Wales took the lead out of nothing.
Lily Woodham’s hopeful free kick connected with Anna Patten’s outstretched arm and the referee pointed to the spot after a VAR check.
The home crowd were stunned into silence but were quickly rejuvenated.
Ireland began playing with more intensity after going behind.
O’Sullivan tested the goalkeeper again and some set pieces had the visitors under pressure.
However, Wales were looking increasingly dangerous on the counter.
Courtney Brosnan denied Welsh skipper Angharad James with a crucial save as the away side exploited the extra space caused by Ireland’s more ambitious approach.
The visitors were playing with great confidence by now and Ireland could not contain them for much longer.
Rhian Wilkinson’s side made no mistake from another counter-attack in the 67th minute.
Substitute Carrie Jones got the better of a 50:50 ball with Caitlin Hayes before running through and finishing expertly.
As the game approached its dying stages, Ireland huffed and puffed but were too often short of the necessary composure against a dogged Welsh side who slowed the game down and managed their lead well as you would expect any team in their position to do.
Patten ensured a frantic finish, partially atoning for her earlier error by heading home a set piece at the second attempt.
There were several nervy moments for Wales in the dying minutes — some last-ditch challenges, goal-line clearances and a great chance that substitute Leanne Kiernan could not convert with a defender and goalkeeper bearing down on her.
It is hard not to compare Ireland’s despair at the Aviva tonight to the joy of Hampden Park two years ago when Vera Pauw’s side beat Scotland in a similarly tense game to secure a first-ever World Cup qualification.
On that occasion, the Scots were the slight favourites, whereas tonight the bookies were tipping Ireland to progress.
So what went wrong?
The build-up was less than ideal.
Ireland were too good for their Nations League group — winning all six of their games, scoring 20 and conceding just two.
And in the Euro qualifiers, they were unquestionably a level below England, France and Sweden.
Their playoff before tonight was also a complete mismatch, as they beat Georgia 9-0 on aggregate.
This Wales playoff is arguably the first time they have played a team at a similar level to them in a truly competitive fixture since the World Cup.
And perhaps the weight of expectation played a part in this below-par display.
The enormous pressure on captain Katie McCabe’s shoulders, in particular, is impossible for us mere mortals to appreciate fully.
The 29-year-old cut a frustrated figure for much of the contest and was lucky to avoid a second booking for a second time after the referee adjudged that she dived in an unsuccessful attempt to win a free kick.
More than anything, it felt like a night when fortune was against Ireland.
That evening in Glasgow, Ireland got out of jail when Courtney Brosnan saved Caroline Weir’s penalty.
There were no such heroics this evening, as Hannah Cain’s spot kick sent the goalkeeper the wrong way.
An emotional Irish side deserved the warm applause at the final whistle — there was no shortage of effort and endeavour — but ultimately the quality and luck needed eluded them on an occasion to forget.
Is it just me or does anyone else think ROG & Keano would make great pals.
Their conversations would be nothing but, to quote Ronan, ‘pure, brutal honesty.’
That must have been like telling him that the sun was going to rise!
Some revelation – not!The world and his brother, sister, mother, father and dog would have known that. Why else would the AB’s speak about it so openly in front of Keano, when they’d have to assume he’d report it back to his fellow country- and countyman ROG at the first available chance – as of course he did.
Pity ye haven’t the same regard for our greatest ever no.10 as ye have for that friend of Prince Albert of Monaco whom ye adore in South Dublin. The man who got us over the line in our first slam for close to 70yrs is lambastes at ever chance. Well I love a straight talking rog whom despite his light stature never sheirked a tackle over a bono voiced boring South Dublin west Brit who will never offend anyone who will always stand on the fence.
Huh?
You’re a tool…. can’t they both be great ambassadors?
Philip, you are another flash. Pathetic.
Ah Phil don’t be like that, talking about your capital city in that manner.
ROG like Keane is a mouth piece!
Phil don’t be a bitter idiot. Where do these bitter fools come fm? Rog is from cork city and if he read this post by u he would be embarrassed . I bet you love in the sticks somewhere and just hate Dublin
Ah stop for the love of God. You’re an embarrassment to Munster fans, Philip.
Not sure about the West Brit ladyboy part, but Johnny is certainly a very attractive man
There was no slight to our, as you rightly say “our greatest ever 10″ intended at all. Cool your jets. All teams target whatever weakness they can find in the opposition’s armour. Tackling wasn’t RO’G's strongest suit – something he shares with a lot of outhalves; nothing wrong in that. Most Test players are good at some things, not so good at others. Only the odd exception is good at everything.
Keano was asked if he takes other sport’s coaching techniques on board when developing his skills, the anecdote clearly relates. It’s not as if he released a statement on it.
I’m getting fair sick of reading your crap at this stage
Too much sauce Philip. Too many chips on shoulder. ..shoulda had a kebab b4 posting
Are you talking about BOD from Clontarf in north Dublin?
Philip won’t ever let the truth get in the way of that large chip on his shoulder. Pity he doesn’t realise Rugby is a team spirt – O Gara kicked the score to win the slam, but he didn’t clear out the ruck just before it, or the one before it. Nor did he pass the ball to himself to kick it. The squad won that grand slam not any one player.
This comment goes out to Philip Ryan and Owen lydon, I like most others on this would really appreciate if ye would stop commenting on issues ye have 0 amount of knowledge on like rugby, thank you in advance
Yours,
Vast majority of “the score.ie” users
David, nice one. I was saying it this morning how boring P.Ryan and his rants were getting.
I’m guessing he’s a munster man like myself Gary, but he hasn’t a clue!! Especially when it comes to bod who has probably been the greatest rugby player to don the green jersey of Ireland
If only I had a time machine in order to get those last 30 seconds of my life back. Chewing gum for the soul stuff.
“He can’t’ tackle.” Been saying that for years, cant wait for Flash etc to come back with “Sure what do the All Blacks know about Rugby? What have they won? Munster ARE rugby”
ROG a great kicker, unfortunately rugby, especially playing fly half is more than just kicking.
ROG pales compared to Jonny Wilkinson, even Eric Elwood.
I think it was pretty much acknowledged by everyone (including himself) that tackling or physicality wasn’t his strong point, but as a tactician and game manager he was a grand master with few equals.
In fairness to Roy he said it up front, Other sporting books recently out could learn,
Lol this is a very funny article.
Would love to have been at that dinner