Ireland were dealt a set back in the Nations League after suffering a 4-0 hammering by Slovenia on Tuesday evening.
They had looked to continue their winning start in the competition having got off to a winning start at home to Turkey on Friday.
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 to victory in Tallaght.
Ireland made a bright start in Slovenia but were caught on the counter-attack in just the third minutes, Lara Prasnikar getting through on goal and, while Courtney Brosnan got a hand to it, her shot still found the top corner.
Slovenia 1-0 Ireland
A goal out of nothing for Slovenia who capitalise on an Irish error to score against the run of play.#COYGIGpic.twitter.com/0oeUZ9rjeQ
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) February 25, 2025
From then onwards the first-half disappointment continued, with Prasnikar adding a second from a corner before Ireland were all over the place as they fell 3-0 behind.
Zara Kramzar cooly slotted her side's third of the game under no pressure from the Irish defence before Courtney Brosnan produced a big one-on-one save to stop Slovenia from making it four.
Slovenia 3-0 Ireland
The Girls In Green have serious work to do now.pic.twitter.com/1encgdRr9g
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) February 25, 2025
There was little of note from Ireland in the second-half before Zara Kajzba rifled home for 4-0 to cap off a hugely underwhelming night.
Emotional Katie McCabe condemned Ireland defeat to Slovenia
Katie McCabe gave an emotional interview to RTÉ after the loss, when she spoke to Tony O'Donoghue about the defeat.
It was completely unacceptable by our standards - we can't start games like that," McCabe reflected.
"We need to have a look at ourselves and look to see where we can improve. The goals were compltely avoidable, we gifted them the chances and we need to be better.
"Look, we are at the start of our journey, Carla and her staff coming in and the chaange of system.
"There is going to be hiccups like this but it shouldn't have been that big of a margin.
"I know the girls f*ckin love... sorry... I know the girls absolutely love playing for Ireland and they won't be putting a performance in like that again."
🇸🇮 4-0 🇮🇪
Katie McCabe: "It's completely unacceptable by our standards.The goals were completely avoidable. We're trying a new system... we gave them too much space."#UWNL pic.twitter.com/jkGhIR2S44— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 25, 2025
It was Ireland's heaviest competitive defeat since 2012 when they were beaten by France in a European qualifier.
Their next fixtures come in the form of a Nations League double-header against Greece, battling them away on April 4 before welcoming them on home soil on April 8.
