Ireland 3-0 Georgia (9-0 agg.)
Eoin Harrington reporting from Tallaght Stadium
Ireland are through to the final round of Euro 2025 playoffs after a routine if somewhat laboured 3-0 second-leg win over Georgia on Tuesday night.
8,745 fans journeyed out to Tallaght, as the Ireland WNT played in Tallaght Stadium for only the second time this year. Fitting, then, that this game set a new attendance record for a women's international at this venue.
The Girls in Green were solid if unspectacular in Friday's first leg, with three late goals putting a shine on the ultimate 6-0 scoreline. They were improved on Tuesday though may once again be frustrated with their lack of cutting edge in attack, particularly during a fairly drab second half.
Nonetheless, there were a few standout performers on a night where Ireland did not need to produce too much quality to get the result.
READ HERE: Arsenal Great Says Irish People Should Be Proud Of Rice And Grealish's England Success
READ HERE: Roy Keane's Not So Cryptic Message Reveals Who Is To Blame For Erik Ten Hag Sacking
Ireland v Georgia: WNT player ratings from playoff second leg
Courtney Brosnan - 6.5
By this author's calculations, Brosnan touched the ball only a handful of times in the first half, a testament to how little Georgia asked of the Ireland backline.
Dealt with the Georgian press well when put slightly under pressure by a Caitlin Hayes back pass late in the first half.
Made a good stop when Georgia took their first shot just before the hour.
Julie-Ann Russell - 8
Julie-Ann Russell gives Ireland an early lead. It looks as if the Georgians are in for a long night at Tallaght Stadium.
📺 Watch: https://t.co/uHRfiPJEjQ
📱 Follow: https://t.co/QacRAVBzfj pic.twitter.com/MiVa2fPyxh— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) October 29, 2024
Russell got things up and running with Ireland's first goal inside three minutes - a well-taken finish for her third international goal in four games.
She continued to play a lively role in Ireland's attack and the lack of pressure from Georgia allowed her to spend almost all of her time in the attacking third. Blasted wide with an almost identical chance to her goal in first-half injury-time.
A consistent threat and adapt with close control in tight situations, her excellent return to the international setup continues.
Caitlin Hayes - 6
A threat in the box from McCabe's set piece deliveries.
She put Brosnan under unnecessary pressure with a strange back pass after 37 minutes.
Put an enticing good delivery into the box in first-half injury time.
Anna Patten - 7
At the heart of the back three again, Patten was calm whenever Georgia counter-attacked in the first half. She moved to the right of the back three when Mannion went off at the break.
The most ambitious of Ireland's centre-backs at playing the ball forward.
Aoife Mannion - 6
Allowed freedom to push forward as the game developed and the Georgian threat dissipated. Didn't do much wrong but her influence on the game was minimal.
Abbie Larkin - 7
Came to life after around 15 minutes, and Ireland started to utilise her explosive pace to get in behind the Georgia defence. Delivered several dangerous crosses into the area in the first half.
The majority of Ireland's most intelligent and threatening link-up play went through Larkin on the right-hand side. Has put her hand up for a regular spot in the team this window.
Withdrawn just before the hour mark for Izzy Atkinson.
Jessie Stapleton - 7
Intelligent off-ball running early on. She is in an impressive run of form in an Irish jersey. Contributed a delightful flick to set up Carusa for Ireland's second goal.
Shifted from defensive midfield to centre-back when Mannion was withdrawn at half-time, limiting her influence on the second half.
Denise O'Sullivan - 6.5
Until the closing moments of the first half, O'Sullivan was quieter than she was in Tbilisi on Friday. However, she was the first to begin to seek out Abbie Larkin, and her link-up play with both Larkin and McCabe developed as the half went on.
Set up Katie McCabe for Ireland's third with a nice one-two from a second-half corner. The heartbeat of Ireland's second-half attacking play, and she got stuck in with a few feisty challenges and duels as well.
Marissa Sheva - 7.5
Alive to the opportunity and did well to get into the box in the lead-up to Julie-Ann Russell's opener. Lively early on and was involved in much of Ireland's build-up play. A surprising but welcome rejuvenation for Sheva in an Ireland jersey.
Katie McCabe - 6
Good set-piece delivery as always and her more central role made her dangerous from the off, though she struggled to make much of the tight situations she found herself in.
Katie McCabe attempts to find the top corner with her spot-kick, but the ball sails over the crossbar.
📺 Watch: https://t.co/uHRfiPJEjQ
📱 Follow: https://t.co/QacRAVBzfj pic.twitter.com/ncj87cfLe0— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) October 29, 2024
Ballooned a poor penalty over the bar after 35 minutes with a 3-0 lead on the cards.
She made up for her miss with a clinical finish to the bottom corner early in the second half. Nearly returned the vaour of Denise O'Sullivan's assist with a delightful through ball to O'Sullivan after 66 minutes.
Withdrawn with just over 20 minutes to go.
Kyra Carusa - 7
Held up the ball well for Sheva in the build-up to Russell's opener.
Jessie Stapleton that is outrageous 🤩pic.twitter.com/SG4FTq4CGr
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) October 29, 2024
She produced a neat finish to put Ireland 2-0 up just after the half-hour mark, and she won a penalty just a minute later after being pulled down by Mariam Kalandadze.
Withdrawn for Heather Payne shortly before the hour mark.
Substitutes
Lily Agg (for Aoife Mannion, h/t) - 5
As always, got stuck in with the dirty work, and found herself involved on the ball more than she was on Friday in Tbilisi.
Izzy Atkinson (for Abbie Larkin, 58') - 5
Did not see too much of the ball initially but began to grow into the game.
Heather Payne (for Kyra Carusa, 58') - 5.5
Like Agg, Heather Payne did not take long to get stuck into the dirty work after being introduced off the bench.
Leanne Kiernan (for Katie McCabe, 72') - 5
Came close with a low driven effort on 78 minutes.
Ellen Molloy (for Julie-Ann Russell, 83') - n/a
Not on long enough to rate fairly. Molloy returned for her first appearance in an Ireland jersey in over two years.
