Our senior women under the guidance of Head Coach Vera Pauw defeated Australia by three goals to two in a friendly international played in Tallaght Stadium this Tuesday evening. Ireland got off to a dream start with the opening goal coming after just three minutes from a free kick converted by debutant Lucy Quinn. The visitors equalised on fourteen minutes following a dreadful error by goalkeeper Brosnan. Ireland regained the lead on twenty three minutes when Denise O’Sullivan‘s shot took a huge deflection and entered the net. It was a case of ‘deja vu’ just seconds before the half-time break when the visitors equalised following another huge deflection. Ireland took the lead for the third time four minutes into the second half when Louise Quinn scored with a diving header following a free kick delivery. This time the Irish defence stood firm and played out the remaining forty plus minutes in a confident and solid fashion.
Team: Courtney Brosnan; Niamh Fahey, Louise Quinn, Savannah McCarthy; Aine O’Gorman, Jamie Finn, Denise O’Sullivan, Katie McCabe(C), Heather Payne, Amber Barrett, Lucy Quinn
Substitutes:
Niamh Farrelly for Barrett 60′
Emily Whelan for Lucy Quinn 72′
Diane Caldwell for Finn 90′
Leanne Kiernan for Payne 90′
Squad
Goalkeepers: Eve Badana (DLR Waves), Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (Reading)
Defenders: Isibeal Atkinson (Glasgow Celtic), Diane Caldwell (North Carolina Courage), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Savannah McCarthy (Galway WFC), Aine O’Gorman (Peamount United), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Harriet Scott (Birmingham City), Claire Walsh (Glasgow City)
Midfielders: Aoibheann Clancy (Wexford WFC), Niamh Farrelly (Glasgow City), Jamie Finn (Birmingham City), Ciara Grant (Shelbourne), Ruesha Littlejohn (Aston Villa), Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Jessica Ziu (Shelbourne)
Forwards: Amber Barrett (FC Koln), Kyra Carusa (HB Hoge), Rianna Jarrett London City Lionesses), Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Saoirse Noonan (Shelbourne), Heather Payne (Florida State University), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Clare Shine (Glasgow City), Emily Whelan (Birmingham City)