Ireland 3-1 France
Eoin Harrington reporting from SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoímh in Cork
Ireland finished their EURO 2025 qualifying group on a wonderful high, claiming their first win of the campaign in brilliant style against France on the banks of the River Lee.
The first soccer international to take place in the rebel county since 2012 drew a vocal crowd. Ultimately, home hero Denise O'Sullivan made the difference with a wonder strike on a fairytale night for the Knocknaheeny native.
🇮🇪 1-0 🇫🇷
Denise O'Sullivan places a low shot from just outside the box into the corner of the net and Ireland lead!
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📱 Updates https://t.co/iOMdrj4J96 #WEURO2025 pic.twitter.com/KR5I1wydkA— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 16, 2024
Julie-Ann Russell would score her second goal in as many games with 15 minutes to go with a similarly delightful finish just minutes later. To add the icing on the cake, centre-back Anna Patten scored her first Ireland goal approaching injury-time after France had pulled one back.
It was a thoroughly deserved victory for the home side, which ensures they will be seeded should the progress through the first round of the upcoming playoffs.
Eileen Gleeson made four changes to the side which lost 2-1 to England last Friday in Norwich. Katie McCabe returned to captain the team, while Julie-Ann Russell was rewarded with a start after her late goal at Carrow Road.
Louise Quinn and Leanne Kiernan also came into the team, as Niamh Fahey, Emily Murphy, Lily Agg, and Amber Barrett dropped to the bench.
Surprisingly, it was not McCabe as the left wing-back of the five (to begin with, at least). Instead, the Arsenal star lined up alongside Ruesha Littlejohn and hometown hero Denise O'Sullivan in the middle of the park.
16 July 2024; Katie McCabe of Republic of Ireland prepares to take a corner kick during the 2025 UEFA Women's European Championship qualifying group A match between Republic of Ireland and France at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
France changed their entire starting line-up from Friday's victory over Sweden, and the relative unfamiliarity of their XI showed in the opening stages.
Ireland were in the ascendancy for much of the game and were braver in the second half, exploiting the tiredness in the French defence to great effect.
Though France pulled one back shortly after Russell's strike, Ireland would not be denied a famous win under the lights at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoímh.
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Ireland v France: WNT player ratings from Cork
Courtney Brosnan - 7
Little was asked of her in the first half-hour. It almost feels cliché at this stage to say that she commanded her box well. But she did.
Made a good stop at close range when Cascarino was played in shortly after the break. Brave in claiming two French corners early in the second half.
🇮🇪 0-0 🇫🇷
Courtney Brosnan called into action to save Ireland in early in the second half
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📱 Updates https://t.co/iOMdrj4J96 #WEURO2025 pic.twitter.com/PI5qalgk3O— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 16, 2024
Aoife Mannion - 6
Pushed up high out of possession and was caught out occasionally by runs in behind from Baltimore.
A lovely dribble into space caused panic in the French defence on 54 minutes. Involved far more on the ball in the second half, and enjoyed an easier ride defensively after the break.
Anna Patten - 6.5
Had a few shaky passes in the first few minutes but began to settle as the team took control. Did well in marshalling Baltimore and Bacha when they managed to get in behind.
Steadied the ship well as the game went on and took her first international goal well in the final minute.
Louise Quinn - 6
16 July 2024; Louise Quinn of Republic of Ireland in action against Vicki Becho of France during the 2025 UEFA Women's European Championship qualifying group A match between Republic of Ireland and France at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Did well to marshal Bacha out of play when the French star got in behind after 35 minutes.
Caitlin Hayes - 5
Did some good shepherding early on, though she was bamboozled by Dufour before Ziu's intervention. She was persistent in trying diagonal cross-field balls in behind, even though they were inconsistent at best.
Jess Ziu - 6.5
Like Mannion, Ziu pressed up high out of possession but was able to drop back when needed - preventing a clear goalscoring chance for Dufour with a brilliant tracking run in the first ten minutes.
Lively and involved in all of Ireland's attacking play down the left early on. Pushed up and joined a front three in the latter stages of the first half.
Did well to get a shot away and test Picaud early in the second half.
Ruesha Littlejohn - 5
16 July 2024; Ruesha Littlejohn of Republic of Ireland is tackled by Léa Le Garrec of France during the 2025 UEFA Women's European Championship qualifying group A match between Republic of Ireland and France at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile
Combative as always and found herself with plenty of time on the ball early on. Caught with a few fouls by referee Olatz Rivera Olmedo.
Withdrawn shortly after half-time.
Katie McCabe - 5.5
Barely saw any of the ball in the opening half-hour, in an unfamiliar midfield role. Moved back out to left wing-back just before half-time. Sloppy in giving up possession on several occasions.
Came into the game far more after the break and found Ziu brilliantly with a clever throw-in to create a chance early in the second half. Far more threatening when she pushed up down the left.
Denise O'Sullivan - 8
Calm and composed on the ball, had a few lovely passes that just didn't quite come off early on.
The theme continued somewhat as the game went on but she was undoubtedly the pivot through which Ireland's attacking play went.
Her hometown goal, a long-range strike to put Ireland 1-0 up with 25 minutes to go, was a moment that will live long in the memory for fans from Cork and beyond. Thoroughly deserved.
16 July 2024; Denise O'Sullivan of Republic of Ireland scores her side's first goal during the 2025 UEFA Women's European Championship qualifying group A match between Republic of Ireland and France at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Capped it all off with a wonderful ball over the top for Russell's goal.
Leanne Kiernan - 6.5
Crafted Ireland's best opportunity of the opening stages for herself in the 18th minute, drawing a decent save from Constance Picaud. Her runs in behind were consistently threatening.
🇮🇪 0-0 🇫🇷
Kiernan drew a decent save from Picaud with the first big chance of the game
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Squandered a golden opportunity in the last minute of the first half when she pulled back rather than taking on the shot herself. She was beaten for pace by the French defence in the second half, which showed when she was played through in the 58th minute.
Continued her running even though she was visibly exhausted in the second period. A valiant showing.
Julie-Ann Russell - 8
Nearly forced a mistake from Picaud early on, and the relentless running at the French defence was to become a theme of Ireland's first half. Her hold-up play and ability to play on headers were both excellent.
She somewhat cornered herself after being played in behind in the 25th minute and should have done better when played through by Littlejohn in the 29th.
She deserved a goal and got it in terrific style to put Ireland 2-0 up late in the second half.
🇮🇪 2-0 🇫🇷
Julie-Ann Russell doubles Ireland's lead with a superb finish
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Substitutes
Lily Agg (for Ruesha Littlejohn, 55') - 6
Pushed up higher than Littlejohn had been stationed and did well to put pressure on the French defence. She was superb in winning back possession repeatedly. A quietly brilliant substitute appearance.
Megan Connolly (for Leanne Kiernan, 87') - n/a
Not on long enough to rate.
Amber Barrett (for Jess Ziu, 90') - n/a
Not on long enough to rate.
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