Alanna Cunnane reporting from Tallaght Stadium
Carla Ward’s first game in charge of the Ireland WNT ended in a 1-0 win against Turkey at the Aviva Stadium, as the Girls in Green simmered, rather than fired, their way back into Nations League B at Tallaght Stadium.
Off the back of failing to qualify for this summer's Euros, this was their first international match of 2025. Coming into it they may have been ranked 35 places above tonight’s opposition, although they struggled to showcase that for much of the game.
At times, Ireland looked slightly uneasy with the favourites tag. Struck with the weight of having to be the ones to break down the low block as opposed to enacting it themselves, they took until the final minute of added time in the first half to break the deadlock, via a Kyra Carusa header.
That said, being in the ascendancy would have been a foreign feeling for Ward’s side heading into this game, given they faced much greater quality teams for much of last year in League A, although it’s one they will have to quickly get used to.
Here are your takeaways from a freezing (as ever) Tallaght, before the side head to Slovenia on Tuesday.
Courtney Brosnan - 5
Although she had little to do, when she did, Ireland net minder Courtney Brosnan appeared uncharacteristically shaky in tonight’s game. Under a high press, she was forced into making some wayward passes on clearances, causing many a supporter’s belly to flip more than once.
Megan Campbell - 6
Making a major clearance off the line in the second half, Megan Campbell really gave Courtney Brosnan and her teammates a few notable dig outs on a couple of occasions. She didn't really impose herself on the game outside of her defensive duties however, and it was a pity not to see more made of her famous throw ins as the game wore on.
21 February 2025; Megan Campbell of Republic of Ireland in action against Melike Pekel of Türki?ye during the UEFA Women's Nations League B match between Republic of Ireland and Turkiye at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Aoife Mannion - 7
Aoife Mannion looked threatening at right back for Ireland, proposing some nice attacking options for the side at times, somewhat standing out in a team that just couldn’t string things together tonight.
Heather Payne - 8
Probably one of Ireland's brighter sparks on the night, Heather Payne was a live-wire for the Girls in Green on the right wing. The Everton player really tried to make things happen, showing wisdom beyond her years on the day she picked up her 50th cap. She also picked up the assist for the opening goal, setting Carusa up nicely.
Ruesha Littlejohn - 5
Free agent Ruesha Littlejohn unsurprisingly looked a little rusty on the Tallaght Stadium pitch tonight, lacking that bit of the sleek composure in passing she normally displays. She’ll know herself she possess much greater quality, and having gotten minutes under her belt until she was taken off with just over 70 minutes gone, she’ll hope to have a better night versus Slovenia.
Denise O'Sullivan - 8
Announced as the Sky Player of the Match, Denise O'Sullivan was like a magician for Ireland in the pockets of space she could find, such is the power she has to keep the ball at her feet in tight spaces. She pulled the strings and pulled Ireland over the line, in a scrappy performance overall.
Katie McCabe - 7
Today marked the 65th time the Tallaght woman captained the Girls in Green, on the occasion of her 94th cap. Although not a memorable game under her high standards, herself O’Sullivan and Payne were among the better performers.
21 February 2025; Katie McCabe of Republic of Ireland after the UEFA Women's Nations League B match between Republic of Ireland and Turkiye at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Anna Patten - 6
With a few shots and half chances, center back Anna Patten was as solid as she could be on the bobbly pitch tonight. She sured things up at the back, and played a role in ensuring they kept their clean sheet in tact.
Lucy Quinn - 5
There isn’t a whole pile to say in what was a bit of an underwhelming night for Lucy Quinn. The Birmingham City woman grappled to get into the match, although it never quite came around for her. Perhaps the best demonstration of this was a threatening freekick position Ireland obtained with around 37 minutes gone in the first half, where a pre planned move saw McCabe ping a short pass to O’Sullivan on the edge of the box, which was then rattled to Quinn, who just couldn’t manage to get her toe to it.
Kyra Carusa - 7
Kyra Carusa netted not only the opening goal of the match, but also the first goal of the Carla Ward era when she got the breakthrough Ireland so desperately needed just before halftime. Converting that lofted cross from Payne and tipping a header over the Turkey keeper, she notched that tally in the 49th minute of the game (45+4), capping off some decent play in the first half, often with her back to goal. She was then taken off by way of Amber Barrett come the 61st minute, but made her impact felt when she was on the pitch.
Marissa Sheva - 6
Ward was full of praise for Marissa Sheva pre-game, and she repaid that confidence with an exerted effort during her time on the pitch. In the thick of it in the midfield battle, she’ll aspire to build on that going forward.
Substitutes
Abbie Larkin - 5 (came on for Lucy Quinn on 61 mins)
Named ‘Baller of the Round’ for Round 5 of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup this week, Abbie Larkin didn’t make her presence much felt on the pitch tonight, but, given the story of the back and forth game, she can’t particularly be faulted for that reality.
Amber Barrett - 6 (came on for Kyra Carusa on 61 mins)
Grasping her minutes on the pitch with both hands, Barrett gave it everything she had when she came on. With little going on around her however it’s no surprise she didn’t get much ball up top, which she no doubt will have been frustrated with.
Megan Connolly & Caitlin Hayes - n/a both came on too late to give a fair rating (Connolly on for Littlejohn on 76 mins, Hayes on for Campbell on 84 mins)
Both huge players in recent years for the WNT, the fact that both of these players didn’t have a starting role in this team will be a talking point over the next few days. They came on a tad too late to provide a fair rating for, both will have a point to prove heading into the second fixture of this window.
