Emily Murphy and Katie McCabe shine as Ireland secure their first World Cup qualifying win in a thrilling encounter in Gdansk.
Ireland 3
Poland 2
Carla Ward’s side registered their first victory of the World Cup Qualifying campaign with a powerful display against Poland in Gdansk. It was billed as an end-to-end match, and it certainly lived up to it.
It was Abbie Larkin that had the first attempted on goal after just 90 seconds, but her effort went to the right and wide. Ireland had another shot a few minutes after absorbing some Polish pressure, but Marissa Sheva’s shot went well wide of the goal.
Poland’s first shot of the game came through world class striker Ewa Pajor; however, her effort went well past Courtney Brosnan in between the Irish goal.
Despite Poland’s attempts to try and catch Ireland on the counter, it was Emily Murphy that struck first for the girls in green. Despite goalie Kinga Szemik getting a hand to it, it was the Newcastle United striker getting her second Ireland goal of her career.
Ireland kept the pressure on after taking the lead, with the girls in green spending most of the time after the opener in the Polish final third and continuing to press the eagles high up the pitch.
Ireland were a team playing with confidence, and their dream start continued curtesy of Katie McCabe scoring a beautiful volley on the edge of the box to double the Irish advantage, as she grabbed her third goal of the campaign in as many games.
Poland were left scrambling for answers to this Irish onslaught, with Poland looking like a team devoid of confidence and unable to break down the Irish team. Poland kept playing the ball out from the back, however Ireland’s press was effective and Poland couldn’t break down the Irish.
Emily Murphy was perhaps a little wasteful with her headed effort going over the bar as a chance for her second went begging.
Poland finally has some time in the Irish final third, with Ewa Pajor having her effort blocked by Anna Patten, with the Aston Villa player blocking an almost certain goal.
Poland began to mount some pressure of their own, with Ireland beginning to sit back after their early press on the home side. Paulina Tomasiak took a wasteful effort on goal instead of laying it off to her teammates for an almost certain goal.
Tomasiak had yet another effort on goal, which sailed to the right and wide. This was followed by another blocked Pajor shot as there was 5 Irish defenders scrambling for the ball.
Poland’s pressure paid off, with Tanja Pawollek’s bullet header rustling in the back of the Irish net, as Poland pulled one back just before half-time after she got on the end of a Paulina Tomasiak cross.
Ireland took a slender 2-1 lead going into half-time, but it was Poland that had all the momentum going into the dressing rooms.
Start of the second half began in a similar way to the end of the first, with Poland mounting on more pressure on Ireland.
Faint shouts for a Poland penalty were waived away by referee Hristiyana Guteva after Natalia Padilla and Aoife Mannion got caught up in a tussle in the box.
Ireland began to create more going forward, with an Aoife Mannion cross being hit wide by fellow club team-mate Emily Murphy.
With the game becoming an end-to-end affair, Marissa Sheva’s top corner strike eased Irish fans nerves and restored Ireland’s two goal advantage. That goal was the Sunderland players fourth Ireland goal of her career.
Ireland squad training ahead of Tonight’s World Cup qualifier v Poland
Poland’s confidence was completely shot, with the eagles failing to create any chances of real danger in the aftermath of Ireland’s third goal.
However, out of nothing Ewa Pajor scored her 71st career goal for Poland by lobbing Courtney Brosnan, restoring some Polish faith and making it a tense final 10 minutes for Ireland fans.
Poland’s hopes of getting a result was thrown in complete doubt, when Oliwia Wos tripped up Emily Murphy in the box, with the Bulgarian ref having no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot.
Katie McCabe however, couldn’t do what she did against the Netherlands and blasted her penalty over the bar.
The fans inside the stadium began to grow louder and louder for the eagles as Poland began to believe that they could knick a result in Gdansk.
Poland became stronger and stronger, while Ireland found themselves holding on for dear life as the game went into injury time.
Poland lobbed everything at Ireland during injury time, with a late set piece requiring a save from Brosnan in the Irish goal.
However try as they might, Poland could not find an equaliser. Ireland had won their first game the World Cup qualifying campaign and their first victory of 2026.
Carla Ward’s side will renew their battles with Poland in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday the 18th of April.
Player of the Match: Emily Murphy. For the second time in this World Cup Qualifying capmaign, the Newcatsle United player has received player of the game for her efforts. She caused both Paulina Dudek and Oliwia Wos a number of nightmares all night long as she scored her first goal in this campaign. She also won a penalty for the girls in green as she is starting to become one of Ireland’s standout performers.
LineUps
Ireland (3-4-1-2): Courtney Brosnan (gk), Chloe Mustaki, Caitlin Hayes, Anna Patten, Katie McCabe (c), Denise O’Sullivan, Megan Connolly, Aoife Mannion, Marissa Sheva, Emily Murphy, Abbie Larkin Subs: Amber Barrett (69’ for Abbie Larkin), Jessica Ziu (86’ for Marissa Sheva)
Poland (4-3-3): Kinga Szemik (gk), Martyna Wiankowska, Paulina Dudek, Oliwia Wos, Aleksandra Zaremba, Tanja Pawollek, Ewelina Kamczyk, Adriana Achinska, Natalia Padilla, Ewa Pajor, Paulina Tomasiak Subs: Patrycja Sarapata (66’ for Tanja Pawollek), Gabriela Grzybowska (66’ for Natalia Padilla), Wiktoria Zieniewicz (69’ for Martyna Wiankowska), Klaudia Jedinska (86’ for Paulina Tomasiak), Milena Kokosz (86’ for Adriana Achinska)
Referee: Hristiyana Guteva (Bulgaria)
Marissa restores our two-goal advantage with a perfect finish pic.twitter.com/G97h1kD35H
— Ireland Football ⚽️ (@IrelandFootball) April 14, 2026