Georgia 0-6 Ireland
Ireland have one foot in the Euro 2025 playoff final after a routine 6-0 win over Georgia in Tbilisi on Friday evening.
Eileen Gleeson's side went into the game against the world's 118th-ranked side having spent the first half of the year becoming accustomed to League A opposition like England, France, and Sweden.
A comprehensive victory was expected and, though this was not the 9-0 demolition that came on Ireland's last visit to Georgia, the Girls in Green were nonetheless rarely troubled in the first-leg of their playoff semi-final.
Katie McCabe would score either side of a neat Kyra Carusa finish, before Jessie Stapleton, Marissa Sheva and Aoife Mannion scored their first senior goals to make it six at the death.
There were some standout performers on a solid if unspectacular night for the Ireland WNT.
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Georgia v Ireland: WNT player ratings from Euro 2025 playoff
Grace Moloney - 6
Starting in place of the suspended Courtney Brosnan, Grace Moloney hardly even got close to the ball such was Ireland's dominance but was assured whenever it did come towards her.
Katie McCabe - 9
🇬🇪 0-1 🇮🇪
Katie McCabe makes the breakthrough for Ireland from the penalty spot after a Georgian handball #COYGIG #GEOIRL
📱 Updates - https://t.co/2uyo5Zlao9
📺 Watch live - https://t.co/XnOP6grVqF
📻 Listen live - https://t.co/Sv0ZFHuDEP pic.twitter.com/59CWG5sHI2— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) October 25, 2024
Drove the Ireland attack early on as she drifted inside and pushed up from her left wing-back slot. Started to enjoy herself more as the first half went on with some nice moments of link-up play and delivery into the box, before putting Ireland ahead in the 37th minute from the penalty spot.
Produced consistently threatening set-piece delivery.
Completely bamboozled goalkeeper Gabunia with a remarkable hit from just inside the Georgian half to make it 3-0 in the second-half. After a tough start to 2024 in an Irish jersey, this was an all-round positive night for Katie McCabe.
🇬🇪 0-3 🇮🇪
Ireland have a third goal and Katie McCabe has her second with a shot from miles out floating over the Georgia goalkeeper #COYGIG #GEOIRL
📱 Updates - https://t.co/2uyo5Zlao9
📺 Watch live - https://t.co/XnOP6grVqF
📻 Listen live - https://t.co/6cFzxLAkk3 pic.twitter.com/XnbJeCVrKh— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) October 25, 2024
Caitlin Hayes - 6
Similarly to Moloney, the centre-backs saw very little of the ball. Caitlin Hayes was proactive in trying diagonal long balls early on, though her delivery was a little off. A consistent threat from set-pieces.
Anna Patten - 6
Contributed well to the steady Ireland build-up from the back as the heart of the back three.
Aoife Mannion - 7
Linked up well with Abbie Larkin down the right and delivered some nice incisive early passes
Her long-ball delivery was more solid than Hayes' in the first half.
Ireland developed play through the triangle of Mannion-Larkin-O'Sullivan on several occasions, and it was that interplay that led to Kyra Carusa's second-half goal.
Headed home well from the back post for her first international goal with the final touch of the game.
Abbie Larkin - 8.5
A brilliant display from Abbie Larkin, who danced around the Georgia defence down the right flank.
Much of Ireland's early build-up play went through the 19-year-old, who could have opened the score before McCabe's penalty with a close-range header.
Delivered a great cross for Carusa for Ireland's second goal just before the hour.
She followed McCabe's example and pushed into more central areas as the second half progressed.
Tyler Toland - 6
A quieter performance than her midfield partners, as she sat deeper than both Agg and O'Sullivan. Largely didn't put a foot wrong after being called for a foul early on.
Lily Agg - 5.5
Got into good positions and made good disguised runs early on, though she did not see as much of the ball as O'Sullivan.
Withdrawn shortly after half-time.
Denise O'Sullivan - 8
Dictated the play, especially as Ireland pushed Georgia back as the game developed.
Her play in tight areas was exceptional and she consistently found the right pass. Nearly scored just after 20 minutes when she shot right at the Georgia keeper.
Julie-Ann Russell - 7.5
Her early running game was excellent, and she was a constant threat in the Georgia box - forced a good save from Gabunia after the half-hour.
Brilliant skill down the left and delivery for Carusa just after the break.
Kyra Carusa - 7
🇬🇪 0-2 🇮🇪
Ireland have doubled their lead with Kyra Carusa turning the ball home at the near post #COYGIG #GEOIRL
📱 Updates - https://t.co/2uyo5Zlao9
📺 Watch live - https://t.co/XnOP6grVqF
📻 Listen live - https://t.co/6cFzxLAkk3 pic.twitter.com/136fv1BL4z— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) October 25, 2024
Very quiet in the game's early stages, Ireland began exploiting Carusa's strong hold-up play as the game progressed. Lovely link-up play with Abbie Larkin when she drifted out right.
Her delightful backheel just before the hour mark put Ireland 2-0 up.
Substitutes
Marissa Sheva (for Lily Agg, 56') - 6
🇬🇪 0-5 🇮🇪
Another first time goalscorer for Ireland as Marissa Sheva gets in on the act in stoppage time #COYGIG #GEOIRL
📱 Updates - https://t.co/2uyo5Zlao9
📺 Watch live - https://t.co/XnOP6grVqF
📻 Listen live - https://t.co/6cFzxLAkk3 pic.twitter.com/fblMHRjxJX— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) October 25, 2024
Injected pace and urgency into Ireland's attacking game off the bench.
Scored a delightful goal in injury time for her first in an Ireland jersey and Ireland's fifth on the night.
Jessie Stapleton (for Tyler Toland, 75') - 6
Bundled home Ireland's fourth with her first international goal, just minutes after coming into the game.
Leanne Kiernan (for Kyra Carusa, 75') - 5
Did not see much of the ball but made some bright runs in the closing stages of the game.
Izzy Atkinson (for Julie-Ann Russell, 90+4') - n/a
Not on long enough to rate.
